Chelsea Women outlast and blast past Manchester City

It was not always the easiest of matches, but the Chelsea Women continued their title race by outlasting and blasting past rivals Manchester City.

At the end of the first half, it looked as though this article would be about how Chelsea Women had so much attacking talent but they just couldn’t make it click together. The only goal up to that point had been Maren Mjelde’s from the spot and there were few clear chances otherwise. It felt as though the second half would be more of the same like the rest of the season had hinted at thus far.

Initially, that is how the second half went. Eventually, however, Manchester City got worn down physically and mentally. 1-0 became 2-0 thanks to a great Fran Kirby cross to Sam Kerr for a tap in. Manchester City pulled one back but that only aggravated the Chelsea Women. Kirby would catch the City keeper miles off her line to make it 3-1.

Chelsea’s game plan was again based on their 4-4-2 that wants to be a 4-2-3-1 while moon lighting as a 4-2-4 when it feels like it. Add in the fluidity of Ji So-yun out of the pivot and the Blues had a front four to five that was impossible to follow as they shifted around.

Initially, Chelsea looked to build their way through City’s defense but the final pass and/or shot was frequently missing. The advanced positioning of the Blues on attack and the counter press allowed City to find their way through via counters. Emma Hayes, being the excellent manager that she is, decided to use that against City. The Blues dropped off their press and invited City on, creating counter chances for the right shade of Blues. Both goals from open play came via breakaways from Chelsea as City found that they had no answer to their own plan used against them.

This plan also proved fruitful as Chelsea was constantly looking to release their wingers in behind. Much as the counters proved fruitful in open play, it is worth mentioning that long balls to Kirby created both of the open play goals as well. The first was a great ball squared centrally to Kerr and the second was simply Kirby catching the keeper out and angling the ball in perfectly.

The substitutes did not have much of an effect on the match for either side. The Blues did change to more of a traditional 4-3-3 to see the match out, but at that point City was pretty well mentally beaten. Chelsea never really lost control of the match at any point, they simply grinded City down enough to make the win rather comfortable in the end.

It would be remiss to find too many negatives from a 3-1 win over a title rival when the only goal conceded was off a penalty. That being said, it has been a common trend this season that Chelsea has reinforced their attack and it has still not truly clicked. Title winners have the ability to grind out wins regardless, but surely Hayes wants her women to be able to win before the grind comes into play.

The next two league matches will be crucial to Chelsea’s title hopes. Currently, only Everton and Arsenal sit above the Blues by two points each, and Chelsea plays both in their next two matches. Six points from those two matches would see Chelsea at least one point ahead of each while also denying their opponents three points, so wins are vital in the title pursuit.