FRANTASTIC!
Kirby scores again for ‘lucky’ Blues
CHELSEA manager Emma Hayes praised the leadership qualities of her squad – but admitted the WSL champions got “a bit lucky” against Manchester City.
Hayes marked 10 years at the helm as her Chelsea side bounced back from last week’s defeat at Liverpool.
England star Fran Kirby put the hosts ahead at Kingsmeadow just before half-time, with Maren Mjelde making the points safe from the penalty spot in the second half.
“We were a bit lucky,” Hayes said. “It looked like two teams that haven’t got any momentum for the season.
“But what we did was rely on quite a trusted group that have been with us for a while, particularly at the back and in goal, and that platform at least gave us a clean sheet.”
Last season’s top-scorer Sam Kerr had a chance to put the Blues ahead inside 20 seconds, but failed to get a clean connection.
The visitors had a penalty appeal denied with 13 minutes on the clock when
Bunny Shaw went down under a challenge from Kadeisha Buchanan.
Three minutes before the break, good link-up play between Guro
Reiten and
Jessie Fleming ended with the Norwegian putting the ball on a plate for Kirby
(right) to find the net.
The champions were much more composed in the second half and when Leila Ouahabi was ruled to have blocked a Sophie Ingle shot with her hand, Mjelde made no mistake from the spot to get Hayes’ side up and running for the season. LIVERPOOL, who shocked Chelsea on the season’s opening weekend, were thumped 3-0 by EVERTON in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Megan Finnigan and Jess Park give the visitors a first-half lead, with Hanna Bennison adding a third three minutes from time. MANCHESTER UNITED made it two wins from two with a 2-0 victory at WEST HAM. Lucia Garcia gave United a 50thminute lead with her first goal for the club. And Hannah Blundell added the second five minutes later.
ASTON VILLA maintained their perfect start with a 2-0 win at LEICESTER. Rachel Daly and Emily Gielnik supplied the goals.
Lee Geum-min set BRIGHTON on course for victory with the opening goal in the 2-1 home defeat of READING.
Katie Robinson added the second with Charlie Wellings replying in added time.