Match Report: Manchester City Women Fall to Chelsea

Today at 06:30 AM

Blues Suffer First Defeat of the Season

Manchester City Women's amazing start to the season came to a crashing end as they were beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. After an even fist half where few chances were created, Chelsea scored twice in four second-half minutes to maintain their perfect start to the season and send the Blues to their first defeat.

Goals by Mayra Ramirez and Guro Reiten, who also seems to score against City, were enough for the home side to claim all three points and go above the blues in the WSL table. The champions also have a game in hand and could be five points clear of City by the weekend.

It was a disappointing result for the Blues, who worked hard to contain Chelsea and limit their chances. A match fought mainly in midfield seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, which would have been a fitting result given the limited opportunities for both sides.

As you would expect, Chelsea started the brighter team and put City on the back foot for around twenty minutes, but the Blues came slowly into the game. And it was City who probably had the best chance in the first half that went begging from the usually lethal Bunny Shaw. Sandy Baltimore's weak pass was collected by Shaw, but the Jamaican dragged her shot wide of the far post.

Another defensive error by Baltimore allowed Shaw in again towards the end of the first half, but her pass to Jill Roord was overhit and Chelsea were able to clear. City were missing the presence of Lauren Hemp, who sat out the midweek visit of Hammarby with a knee injury. Jess Park was kept mostly quiet although a moment of magic from the youngster almost set her free. Neat footwork on the edge of the Chelsea box created some space, but a one-two with Shaw failed to come off.

Chelsea were a constant threat and the Blues had to be alive at the back, but limited the home side to long-range off-target shots, which will have suited Gareth Taylor.

The second half continued in the same vein, with both teams showing a bit more intent but failing to provide that final ball through past the last defender or get the finishing touch. It was always going to need a piece of individual skill to bring about the first goal and Chelsea got that in the 75th minute Ramirez shrugged off Alanna Kennedy with ease and raced towards the City goal with just Alex Greenwood ahead of her. The Brazilian cut inside and hit a low shot past Yamashita and into the bottom corner.

City tried to hit back, but four minutes later, Reiten's curling effort from the edge of the area secured the points. City left the Norwegian completely unmarked on the right-hand side and Reiten had time and space to pick her spot beyond the reach of Yamashita.

It was a bitter defeat for Taylor's side who, for long periods of the game had to match Chelsea stride for stride and threatened to become the team to break Sonia Bompastor's 100% start to life at Chelsea.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and the Blues will now have to pick themselves up from this defeat before heading to Sweden on Thursday for their Champions League tie at Hammarby.

Final Score: Chelsea Women 2-0 Manchester City Women