FABULOUS FRAN SENDS BLUES TOP
IT is Chelsea’s title to lose after they equalled Manchester City’s unbeaten record of 31 games and moved top on goal difference with a game in hand.
Yet for all the star quality on display, it was an old-fashioned, route- one goal that decided this pivotal clash.
A long ball from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger found Fran Kirby behind the Manchester United centre backs and the forward kept her cool to chip the ball over Mary earps and nd into the net.
Kirby needed just one chance e and succeeded where her r team-mate sam Kerr had d failed. The Australian could d have put the game to bed d inn in the first half but wasted three ree e gilt-edged chances.
it looked as if those misses would come back to haunt the Blues when Lauren James cancelled out pernille Harder’s opener with a stunning solo goal, but Kirby had the final say, showing for the second d week running how important she is to this Chelsea side.
‘We should have been out of sight at half- time with the chances we created,’ said Chelsea boss emma Hayes.
‘i was disappointed at 1-1 because even though they were coming back into the game, it shouldn’t have been 1-1. To recover from that setback, and we did it away at Arsenal as well, is a sign of a great team.’
Casey stoney admitted her side’s lapse in concentration cost them a valuable point. ‘it’s fine margins and we didn’t defend a long ball,’ said the Manchester United coach.
‘We’re very disappointed with that goal. Lauren James comes on and equalises for us. At that point, i think you take a draw. That’s what you have got to learn, to take a point and defend well.’
Chelsea could have been ahead as early as the second minute when Kirby found Kerr in the penalty area, but her shot was saved by the outstretched leg of earps. Two more chances, both created by Kirby, came Kerr’s way in the 13th and 14th minutes.
The first saw her scuff an angled shot wide; the second was h her b best t opportunity. t it Kirby’s precise pass split the United defence, leaving Kerr one on one with earps, but the striker got her finish all wrong as she hit another shot astray with the outside of her boot.
Kerr’s link- up play with Kirby is currently keeping Beth england out of the starting Xi. Last term’s player of the season would surely have finished at least one of those chances.
Chelsea’s record signing broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark. erin Cuthbert’s corner caused mayhem in the penalty area and Magdalena eriksson’s header was cleared off the line. Kirby’s follow-up shot then hit a post before the ball fell kindly to Harder to convert.
stoney was forced to leave Tobin Heath on the bench after the American picked up a knock during the week and United missed her experience. But B it was another substitute, substitute 19-year-old 1 James, who made the difference, scoring within five minutes of coming on.
A one-two with ella Toone and a bit of trickery saw her sidestep Ji so-Yun and Millie Bright before curling an exquisite shot into the far corner.
United were level for just four minutes, with Kirby showing her composure to beat earps with a clinical finish. CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Berger 6; Mjelde 6.5, Eriksson 7, Bright 6.5, Andersson 6; Ji 6 (Reiten 76min), Leupolz 6; Cuthbert 7, KIRBY.7 5, Kerr 6 (England 70, 6); Harder 6.5 (Ingle 70, 6). Subs.not.used: Telford, Blundell, Fleming, Spence, Charles. Scorers: Harder 30, Kirby 65. Booked: Reiten. Manager: Emma Hayes 7. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Earps 6.5; Smith 6, A Turner 6, M Turner 6, Batlle 6; Ladd 6, Groenen 6; Hanson 6.5 (Sigsworth 75, 6), Toone 6, Galton 6.5; Press 6 (James 55, 6.5). Subs.not.used: Bentley, McManus, Heath, Harris, Ross, Zelem, Fuso. Scorer: James 61. Booked: Groenen. Manager:. Casey Stoney 6.