Here’s Jonathan Liew’s report from Kingsmeadow, where City became the first team to win at Chelsea’s home for the first time in over three years.
Emma Hayes had her say, via the BBC: “We gave away a goal that is a poor goal on our part. That could easily have been a 0-0 game but it is an error. I am not putting that on Erin because she has been absolutely superb this year and will be beating herself up about that but these things happen. Second half we were totally dominant and just didn’t have that cutting edge when it mattered.”
City manager Gareth Taylor spoke to the BBC: “I didn’t enjoy the second half, I have to be honest. We know we can look after the ball better than that but I can’t criticise. We have such a desire to keep clean sheets. It is a big step for us.
“It is my first win here. They made it a bit of a fortress. We have broken that record now and we deserved it. We played some good stuff in the first half and in the latter stages it was really good show of defending from the entire team.”
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Alex Greenwood, one of that redoubtable Manchester City defensive line, spoke to the BBC: “There’s eight games to go, we need to stay focused and go again. I think we’ve always had what it takes. For us it’s staying humble. We do what we do and we stay focused. We should enjoy this. Then we go again.”
Both teams in the huddle, with City quietly jubilant, while Emma Hayes looks somewhat disappointed. Understandably so; her team never got going at all.
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Look how close that table is. Chelsea are only top on goals scored.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 14 | 28 | 34 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 14 | 28 | 34 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 13 | 16 | 28 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 13 | 15 | 24 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 13 | -2 | 19 |
Full-time: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City
That is a huge and deserved win for City. Bunny Shaw’s goal was a beauty, as they pressed Chelsea into so many mistakes in the first half. In the second, City defended deep and so well to pull themselves level with Chelsea at the top. It’s all to play for.
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90+10: Into the 100th minute and Keating again claims. What a game she’s had. Safe as houses. And she sees it out. The champions are beaten…City are the winners.
90+9 min: James is forever the taregt but it’s not her night, nothing really coming off for her. Emma Hayes is muttering, accepting perhaps that her team haven’t done enough. Niamh Charles whips the ball in and Keating is so calm, in waiting and collecting the cross.
90+7 min: The Siege of Kingsmeadow continues, though there is a parley when Lauren James clouts the ball into the stands. These are crucial seconds now.
90+5 min: After Demi Stokes, the City veteran, comes on, Chelsea go close, and Keating is the heroine, making a double save, the first from Cankovic, then smothering it.
90+3 min: Shaw gets back to head the corner clear. She’s all powerful in the air. Kaneryd shoots from distance and Keating holds on and takes her time over the goal kick.
90+2 min: Shaw chasing shadows as she attempts to press. City looking very tired. Chelsea get another corner.
90 min: Aleixandri has to go off, and looks in pain. On comes Kennedy to see out the 90, Make that 99 – as there will be nine minutes added on.
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87 min: A break in play after Lauren James and Aleixandri crash into each other. A drinks break, and last orders for Chelsea are ringing out. Aleixandri is down but not out.
86 min: The corner count continues to climb but so does the clearance count. Sam Kerr is sat in the stands, wishing she could do Sam Kerr things but Sam Kerr things won’t be Sam Kerr things for a while yet. Ramirez, with a language barrier to her new teammates, has been all action but nothing like as deadly as Sam Kerr things.
83 min: Such composure from Aleixandri, in cushioning her header back to Keating. Then James is booked for blocking the goal kick. All Chelsea.
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81 min: Chelsea have a corner, taken short, and eventually James comes to the byline, and Keating makes the save.
79 min: City make a change, so do Chelsea. Chloe Kelly looked knackered. Jelena Čanković comes on for Melanie Leupolz for Chelsea.
71. CITY SUB | Filippa joins the contest! 👊
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) February 16, 2024
🔵 0-1 ⚪️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/deUXoyjxqy
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77 min: Ooooh. Cuthbert zings one in from the edge of the box but it spins wide.
75 min: The Chelsea fans behind their team, and they get excited when James’ flick to Beever-Jones opens up a chance, only for the ball to end up somewhere on Jack Goodchild Way.
73 min: Hampton makes a save down low, but perhaps Kelly, from another counter, might have found Park or Shaw. City having the better chances, if not the control of possession.
72 min: Another Chelsea sub:
A third change of the night as Nusken comes on for Lawrence. 🔄
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) February 16, 2024
🔵 0-1 ⚪️ [72'] #CFCW
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72 min: Shaw is very isolated now for City. The high pressing of the first half is a distant memory. City at last get up in numbers, and then Casparij, stepping forward, has a dig from distance.
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71 min: Cuthbert’s cross is knocked away but Chelsea utterly dominating possession now. City still looking to the counter, but fail to launch one when Park and Kelly have a communication breakdown.
69 min: City corner, and Aleixandri flicks over the bar.
67 min: Praise for Robyn Cowen from Charles Antaki: “Agreed - Robyn Cowen is such a good commentator - a really super combination of knowledge, pace, enthusiasm + hearable affection for the game and the players. Also a hint of amusement in her voice, a grace note unknown to the more self-important in the trade.”
66 min: Panic in the City box but Ramirez’s cross is cleared into the face of Kaneryd. Keating meanwhile goes down, as goalkeepers often do at times of pressure for a team. This practice is prevalent in the women’s game. Though at least they admit it.
65 min: Chelsea subs: Fran Kirby has been quiet.
Two changes for Chelsea as Kaneryd and Beever-Jones come on for Kirby and Reiten.
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) February 16, 2024
🔵 0-1 ⚪️ [63'] #CFCW
64 min: Chelsea fans boo when James fails to win another decision, this time a corner. The previous penalty claim was nothing like valid. James fell over.
62 min: James, who has been quiet, gets up a head of steam, and falls in the vicinity of the box. Nothing given. Was she touched? No VAR so it won’t matter.
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60 min: Chelsea changes are imminent. They are required, this game still ebbing away from them.
58 min: Hampton asked to make a save. Hemp has the ball taken from her by Ouahabi and Coombs zings a shot in. Then Chelsea go off again, and Charles fails to find Kirby.
56 min: Chance for quick City attack but Kelly, short of company, has to cut back and eventually Hemp’s shot is blocked.
53 min: More tetchiness and Chloe Kelly enters the book for a swinging tackle. From the free-kick, Keating is all over the place but the ball drifts beyond everyone.
52 min: Ouahabi fouled by Cuthbert and that’s an accumulation of fouls, so a booking for the Chelsea player. There’s an air of tetchiness abounding here.
51 min: It’s Chelsea with the very high press. But City get to mount an attack. Ouahabi’s ball in is aimed at Shaw who stoops to head the ball down but it’s cleared.
49 min: City rocked back, Aleixandri having to make a big header to clear some danger. Then, Hasegawa has to concede a corner after a Ramirez charge down the flanks.
47 min: Chelsea’s impetus continues, with James almost finding Ramirez. City clear their lines.
46 min: Back away we go. A MASSIVE 45 minutes in this WSL season and in the Emma Hayes story. Will City be able to maintain their energy levels. Chelsea begin with determination, including a heavy tackle from Lauren James.
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Half-time: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City
Hugely impressive from City, especially so from Khadija Shaw, whose shot from distance in the closing second is a mark of her dominance of the occasion. She scored a fine striker’s goal, so calm. Her teammates have pressed Chelsea to distraction. Much work to do for Emma Hayes.
45+2 min: Park releases Kelly with a pass out wide after a Charles error and the defender does well to concede a corner.
45 min: Four minutes added on, mostly for that Shaw injury.
44 min: City continue to force Chelsea into hurried play. They’ve been good for their lead.
42 min: Ramirez wins the ball in midfield and eventually, the ball comes to Cuthbert who has a dig at goal, firing just over. Keating had it covered, just about.
40 min: Bunny Shaw has to leave the field, and comes back on, looking a tad ginger but better than before. She hadn’t moved in the aftermath of that clash.
38 min: Lauren Hemp embodies City’s half by running back to clear the danger from a Lawrence overload…oh dear, Shaw is down after an aerial duel she wins.
36 min: Shaw, who was supposed to be carrying a knock, drops deep and powers along. What a game she’s having. The problem was she ended up with no forward to link with.
34 min: Ooof. Fran Kirby, coming in from the right, seemed likely to net only for her space to be closed down by Keating.
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33 min: Charles Antaki gets in touch: “Terrific stuff so far, but it’s disappointing that the game has been short changed by cut-price television coverage: there seems to be just the one camera low-down on halfway, with the players disappearing into the murk when there’s any sort of goalmouth action. I know the BBC is a bit strapped for cash these days, but they could afford something a bit more in keeping with the two best teams in the WSL.”
Would guess Kingsmeadow is not easy to set up at. Still, the excellent Robyn Cowen is doing a good job on the mic.
32 min: The Chelsea fans barracking the referee, and their team getting annoyed, too, mostly because their team is not having things anything like their own way.
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30 min: Chelsea want a penalty. Ramirez speeds on and on, and Greenwood slides in, taking down the forward. That looked doubtful. Ramirez fell over even before Greenwood had come close. Hmm. No VAR so we go on.
29 min: Ball pinged into Shaw but she just fails to get to it. The City top scorer has been so dangerous.
26 min: Kelly is fouled by Lawrence, and that’s a heavy one, though no booking.
24 min: City continuing to press, Shaw all over Hudson. Emma Hayes looks concerned on the sidelines. Her team second best. Though Ramirez forces a corner, taken short to Fran Kirby, and it’s scuffed behind for another corner. Eventually, Keating can claim.
22 min: City hold the offside line, as Reiten is caught unawares.
20 min: Hannah Hampton to the rescue, saves from Shaw and then from the corner that follows, from Aleixandri’s header.
19 min: Chelsea try to get Ramirez away but she’s not quite on the correct wavelength.
17 min: Well, this is very exciting. Chelsea have to chase the game. And we have seen how deadly City can be on the break.
15 min: That was a fine demonstration of the press and counter game that dominates the game in both women and men’s football. City perfectly executed it, making full advantage of a Cuthbert error and boom.
Goal! Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City (Shaw, 14)
Some home excitement as Lauren James shows off her immaculate control. But the all is soon enough coughed up. City break at pace, real pace and when Bunny Shaw gets the ball from Jess Park. Shaw ploughs on, and on, and when she approaches Hampton flicks the ball in. Great goal well taken.
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12 min: The corner is aimed at Shaw but then Lauren Hemp comes across her. “Call a name,” as they used to say. The ball eventually goes back to Hampton in the Chelsea goal.
11 min: Shaw drops deep, very deep. Then Hemp and Kelly link up. Kelly eventually wins a corner. Kelly will take that herself, of course.
9 min: The ball stroked around by City, perhaps trying to get their breath back after something of a Chelsea onslaught. Chelsea get it back. Sounds like a few fans have been making full use of the Kingsmeadow bar.
7 min: Keating again claims, as Niamh Charles lobs in a cross from the left.
6 min: A Chelsea corner, after Greenwood scuffs the ball behind. Cuthbert reaches the cross but Keating in City’s goal claims it.
4 min: Lauren James booms into space but her attempted diag is cut out. Then Fran Kirby plays in Cuthbert whose shot is blocked. Chelsea are up for this one too.
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3 min: Chloe Kelly to the fore with City, she’s such a dangerous player. Lauren Hemp on the left side plays it back to Alex Greenwood. City look well up for this, pushing forwards from the start.
1 min: And away we go in south London. Or is it Surrey? One never quite knows. City immediately go long to Khadija Shaw but there’s an infringement.
Ok, the teams are out at Kingsmeadow. The Liquidator is playing. And THIS IS MASSIVE.
Emma Hayes’ pre-match flash interview: “I love these games. There is a lot of mutual respect between both clubs and it will be a very interesting battle. It gets you three points closer in an ideal world to where you want to be. I’ve been here long enough, I know the way the game goes and I’m not thinking abut that. I’ve got to get the team prepared and get the mindset right. They know what we expect, they know what a Chelsea standard is and I’ll absolutely demand that from them.”
Gareth Taylor’s pre-match flash interview: “I think we are in good form, in good spirit and I know we are coming up against a good challenger tonight. It’s a good opportunity for us. At the start of the season if we could have the chance we had tonight to go really close with winning tonight, we would have took your hand off.”
Those teams: City unchanged from the team that beat Arsenal in the FA Cup. Lauren James replacing Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is Chelsea’s sole change. Two settled teams, as might be expected at the top of the table, though Chelsea still rue the loss of Sam Kerr, who is likely to miss the Olympics, according to reports from Australia. That’s sad for Kerr, who is at least off her crutches now.
And from Gareth Taylor, the Manchester City manager: ““I don’t think we need to hype it up any more,” he said. “For us, normalising it is the sensible thing for us. When you play against Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United, the nerves and everything is there anyway.
“It’s a big game. It feels big. There’s no denying that. There’s no doubt the importance of the game and this is what we want, to be in this position. It’s when you come into it at this stage of the season and you have the opportunity to potentially go within goal difference of the league leaders. That’s exactly what we wanted.”
Some pre-match words from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, via the BBC: “We have experience of being in this position and we understand what it takes to win titles. We will have to use all of that experience in the next part, starting from tomorrow, to be in the best position possible to win another title.
“But one thing is for certain, the title isn’t decided over one or two games, it’s effectively breaking down the season in blocks. We’re in a strong position for sure, but I do not believe we are overwhelming favourites to win a title just because of our position.”
Those teams in analogue fashion.
Chelsea: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Bjorn, Charles, James, Cuthbert, Leupolz, Reiten, Kirby, Ramirez. Subs: Musovic, Ingle, Nusken, Perisset, Mjelde, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Cankovic, Beever-Jones.
Man City: Keating, Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Coombs, Kelly, Park, Hemp, Shaw. Subs: Stokes, Fowler, Angeldal, Morgan, Blindkilde, MacIver, Mace, Kennedy.
The teams
Your squad to face City! 💪#CFCW pic.twitter.com/B3iFfgQLek
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) February 16, 2024
The XI set to confront Chelsea! 🫡
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) February 16, 2024
XI | Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa
SUBS | MacIver, Stokes, Fowler, Angeldahl, Morgan, Mace, Blindkilde-Brown, Mace, Kennedy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/8uvur0HgZh
This week’s Moving The Goalposts, to which you should sign up, features a preview of this match.
The two No 9s: Khadija Shaw has been setting records again for City. She has 13 league goals – a league high – and recently scored three hat-tricks in four games. The Jamaica international has a natural goalscoring ability, with her head or feet, and is at times unplayable. Her aerial ability and pace to beat defensive lines is coupled with her movement, hold-up play and strong relationship with those around her. There is, however, a slight doubt over Shaw’s fitness after she was withdrawn with a calf problem last weekend.
At the other end all eyes will be on Chelsea’s new acquisition, Mayra Ramírez, who made a high-profile move to the club in January. At 5ft 10in, the Colombian adds a strong presence while also possessing speed and plenty of flair. In the little time she has had with her new club, Ramírez has demonstrated the abilities needed to lead the line and opened her account with a beautifully flicked backheel strike at the weekend. Having the support of creative wide forwards and the undeniable talent of Lauren James in the pocket should be a recipe for success, but she will need time to settle and develop those relationships.
Here’s that WSL table. It’s tight at the top.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 13 | 29 | 34 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 13 | 27 | 31 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 13 | 16 | 28 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 13 | 15 | 24 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 13 | -2 | 19 |
Preamble
This is the big one. Should Chelsea win this one, then then chances of Emma Hayes sailing across the Atlantic with another title to her name will be greatly increased. The gap could open to six points. A win for Gareth Taylor’s team and the title race is back on, and that could let in Arsenal, against whom Chelsea lost their only match of the season, a 4-1 defeat. The teams last met in the second game of the WSL campaign, and it ended 1-1, with an exceedingly late goal by Guro Reiten.
Kick-off is 7.15pm. Join me.
