Chelsea come out the blocks on the front foot but Aston Villa manage to defend the ball well in the opening minute of the game. Sam Kerr looks to get in behind but as she goes down it’s more that it’s great defending by Marisa Ewers to make sure the Australian can’t run in behind. As expect Chelsea are on the front foot and the danger of Ji So-Yun was noticed early as she looks to pick out Sam Kerr but the offside flag goes up.

Mana Iwabuchi and Emma Follis look to link up but some sustained possession ends in a offside call but positive for the rest of the game in the opening 10 minutes that Aston Villa can release the pressure on the defence. Chelsea look to attack at all times but Aston Villa look to defie them as Marisa Ewers stops another attack. Chelsea try to play through Aston Villa but a shot from the edge of the box from Jessie Fleming is headed over and behind by Asmita Ale. 

 

Sam Kerr gets in behind the defence and as she runs on her effort is taken by a well positioned Lisa Weiss as she see’s the danger out on the 17th minute. A nervy moment at the back as Lisa Weiss comes and stops as the ball bounces around and Anita Asante clears it. Hannah Blundell shoots on the edge of the box and it deflects behind for a corner. Aston Villa having to do the job that would be expected but are also keeping Chelsea honest at the back with the likes of Emma Follis and Mana Iwabuchi moving the ball around. Chelsea find the breakthrough on the 24th minute as Sam Kerr’s header goes in off the post after it deflects off Asmita Ale’s back for a Chelsea 1-0 lead. 

 

Aston Villa are trying to grow themselves into the game as the 30 minutes mark passes but the score still only at 1-0 find themselves in the game as they look to build and keep the Chelsea attack at bay. Asmita Ale nearly picks out Mana Iwabuchi as she dinks the ball over the defence but it just finds it’s way through to the Zecira Musovic in the Chelsea goal on the 35th minute. Lisa Weiss comes to Aston Villa’s rescue again as she gets down to block the ball at Sam Kerr’s feet but the follow up is wide of the goal from Fran Kirby as the score remains 1-0. Chelsea will be happy to be on top through the game but not to be only 1-0 up, but Aston Villa should be delighted to of withstood the pressure and still be in the game with 45 minutes left to play. Even though in the last minutes Jess Carter finds herself in the box and she blazes her effort over the bar. 

 

Olivia McLoughlin In Action (Photo by @AWFCOfficial)

 

Chelsea come out on the front foot again and a great last ditch tackle by Ella Franklin-Fraiture gets in too block Sam Kerr’s effort from going on target on the 47th minute. Elisha N’Dow does well to get back and stop Chelsea counter attacking as she catches Sam Kerr on the ball. Jodie Hutton is next to make a great decision to stop the onslaught of Chelsea as she gets across to stop Fran Kirby getting on the ball. On the 55th minute Chloe Arthur whips a ball into the box but its overhit and seems more like a shot as Zecira Musovic holds onto the effort. It’s great to see that Aston Villa aren’t just here to take part but are also trying to get back into the game as they enjoy a spell in possession, but after a mix up at the back between Lisa Weiss and Asmita Ale, the ball breaks to Sam Kerr who picks out the top corner and an outstretched Lisa Weiss can’t keep it out as Chelsea take a 2-0 lead with Sam Kerr’s brace on the 57th minute. 

 

Chelsea show their depth in talent when they bring on the players they can for those already on the pitch as we pass the hour mark. Ji So-Yun hits an effort on the 67th minute but the effort goes over the bar as Chelsea look to extend their lead over Aston Villa going into the final 20 minutes of the game. Chelsea nearly break in behind the Aston Villa defence but Jodie Hutton manages to get in and break up the attack before Chelsea can make anything of it on the 70th minute. Olivia McLoughlin all game has looked great on debut against Chelsea’s superstars and takes a booking for the team on the 75th minute as she catches one of them late. 

 

Elisha N’Dow does really well to get across and stop Chelsea from looking to extend their lead but the Aston Villa Centre Back makes sure that it goes behind for a corner as we enter the final 15 minutes of the game. Aston Villa make three changes to try and bring fresh legs into the game into the final 10 minutes and the final push of the game. Chelsea continue to look for their 3rd goal of the game but the Aston Villa defence are trying to make sure the gap between the teams stays at only 2. Even though strong at the back Aston Villa can’t seem to get anything going on the attack to put the Chelsea goalkeeper under any pressure as they look to try and get forward up the pitch. Ella Franklin-Fraiture picks out Diana Silva but her ball into the box can’t find Freya Gregory at the back post as Chelsea clear for a corner, but the corner comes to nothing as we enter injury time. A late effort from Jessie Fleming goes over the bar as she is given space on the edge of the area. The referee brings the game to an end with Chelsea winning 2-0. A dominate game for Chelsea but alot of positives that Aston Villa can take from the game.