Match ends, Chelsea Women 3, Aston Villa Women 0.
Chelsea bounced back from successive cup exits to return to the top of the Women’s Super League by beating Aston Villa.
Emma Hayes’ side were handed a gift after just four minutes as Villa keeper Anna Leat dived to save a Sjoeke Nusken shot with her hands outside the penalty area and was shown a red card.
A player down, Villa cracked under Chelsea’s pressure and Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring when she curled past replacement goalkeeper Sophia Poor after a perfectly placed Niamh Charles cross.
There was no respite for 17-year-old debutant Poor and Chelsea got their second when Maika Hamano turned home after Catarina Macario flicked an Ashley Lawrence cross into her path.
Chelsea, who were beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and lost to Arsenal in the League Cup final on 31 March, were dominant throughout as they enjoyed the majority of possession and were patient going forward.
The result never seemed in doubt and they extended their advantage when Kadeisha Buchanan headed home a Macario delivery in the second half.
Victory in their game in hand sent Chelsea back above Manchester City on goal difference, while Aston Villa remain in seventh place.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 24Hampton
- 12LawrenceBooked at 77mins
- 7CarterSubstituted forCuthbertat 69′minutes
- 26Buchanan
- 21CharlesSubstituted forReitenat 56′minutes
- 6Nüsken
- 5IngleBooked at 61mins
- 14Kirby
- 33Beever-JonesSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 82′minutes
- 9MacárioSubstituted forRamírezat 69′minutes
- 23Hamano
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 8Leupolz
- 11Reiten
- 15Périsset
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 22Cuthbert
- 35Ramírez
Aston Villa Women
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 21LeatBooked at 4mins
- 4Patten
- 6CorsieBooked at 8mins
- 26Maritz
- 2MaylingSubstituted forLehmannat 81′minutes
- 8Nobbs
- 25Taylor
- 9DalyBooked at 45mins
- 10DaliSubstituted forHansonat 69′minutes
- 22MagillSubstituted forMullettat 82′minutes
- 17SalmonSubstituted forPoorat 5′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Lehmann
- 11Gregory
- 13Poor
- 18Mullett
- 20Hanson
- 23Leon
Live Text
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Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 3, Aston Villa Women 0.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Noëlle Maritz.
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Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
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Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.
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Attempt missed. Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jordan Nobbs.
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Attempt blocked. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
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Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
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Attempt missed. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Georgia Mullett following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women).
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Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
