Manic March has certainly begun for Chelsea and Manchester City and the packed schedule is clearly taking its toll on both. While Chelsea relished in home comforts on this occasion, registering their 14th WSL win of the season against Leicester, Gareth Taylor’s side faltered and could only return from Dagenham with a point against a resilient West Ham. Their 1-1 draw means they now sit 12 points off the top of the table.
Taylor cut a frustrated figure as his side failed to hold on to a 1-0 lead against the Hammers. A 91st-minute equaliser from Manuela Paví cancelled out Khadija Shaw’s opener to the delight of the hosts. Injury and loading caused both managers to change personnel, with the visitors in particular looking out of sorts.
Rehanne Skinner’s side started with intensity, the aggressive press of their attacking players causing issues for City’s defence. Many developing sides might have wilted after the kind of defeat they had suffered at Arsenal just three days previously but, if there was any loss of confidence, it did not show. They had the best opportunities of the first half with Seraina Piubel stinging the gloves of Ayaka Yamashita.
The Manchester City manager found energy from his bench, bringing on the firepower of Shaw and Vivianne Miedema. They had an almost immediate impact, the latter setting up the former for her 12th goal of the campaign. Their joy was short-lived, however, with the hosts digging deep, a lovely touch from Riko Ueki to set Paví up to earn an important point.
Chelsea returned to winning ways after faltering slightly in a draw with Brighton on Sunday. This was another potential opportunity for a slip up – Leicester are the only other team to have taken points off the current champions this season.
Managers Sonia Bompastor and Amandine Miquel are well acquainted from their time in France. Bompastor made several changes to her side and while they dominated the ball and created chances, they got just five on target. Leicester, in contrast, registered four.
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Catarina Macario’s eighth-minute opener got the Blues up and running and Aggie Beever-Jones added another shortly after the break, a delightful flick from Mayra Ramírez setting the England forward up. Yuka Momiki pulled one back to give the visitors hope before Erin Cuthbert made her return from injury to restore Chelsea’s lead and send them eight points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.
Article by:Source: Sophie Downey
