Mjelde’s spot on for table-topping Blues
NORWEGIAN’S SECOND HALF PENALTY SEES HOSTS EDGE TIGHT MATCH
MAREN MJELDE’S second-half penalty against Manchester United sent Chelsea Ladies back to the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) and stretched their winning run in all competitions to seven games.
Manchester City’s 5-0 win over West Ham earlier in the day meant the Blues needed the win to reclaim top spot.
Chelsea were frustrated for more than an hour by an in-form United side but Fran Kirby made an immediate impact off the bench, being fouled by Millie Turner in the area and Mjelde expertly converted the spot kick.
Casey Stoney’s side tried to find a way back into the game but the Blues held on to end United’s fivegame winning run.
In front of a packed Kingsmeadow on Women’s Football Weekend, United winger Kirsty Hanson had the best chance of the first half but could only fire into the side netting from close range after a solo run down the right.
For the hosts, Ramona Bachmann forced United goalkeeper Mary Earps into a near-post stop, while midfielder Ji So-Yun fired two separate shots off-target from inside the area.
After half-time, Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert broke the offside trap to run clear through on goal but spurned a golden opportunity to break the deadlock by poking her effort wide under no pressure.
Chelsea were then awarded their penalty minutes later when Kirby, just seconds after coming on, was fouled by Turner and Mjelde beat Earps to her right from 12 yards.
United were unlucky not to draw level 10 minutes from time as substitute Jane Ross fired a cross goalwards from close range which hit the body of Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger before striking the bar and then the post before bouncing away.
Emma Hayes’ side held on to head back to the WSL summit and Beth England, said: “It was quite a tough battle, it showed the game was quite close between the two teams. I don’t think in the first half we really got out of second gear. I think we did well to stay in the game. Thankfully we went in at half-time 0-0, United had a good few chances but we found our second gear, got on top and the subs who came on made a difference. The bench won us the game and that penalty was vital for us.”
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