Just before the Blues have their shot at the current co-league-leaders, Chelsea returned to Kingsmeadow to take on an ambitious Aston Villa side in the Women’s Super League. Behind two show-stopping goals by Lauren James, the Blues outlasted Carla Ward and the Villains by two goals with Emma Hayes watching from the stands. Even with the short turnaround, the rotation throughout the last few matches was the catalyst for another positive result in league play.
Although the clean sheet run came to a close after Rachel Daly’s goal just before the half, Chelsea found a way to counter-punch following a response from the opposition. It was the second time in the last five matches that the Blues reacted swiftly to an equalizer. From the memorable celebrations from James and Sam Kerr to how dangerous the west Londoners were from the flanks, this match demonstrated the team’s mood and the consistent quality it has shown all season finding the end of crosses.
Following the match, general manager Paul Green spoke on James’ quality, and her ability to be a different maker
"“I thought she took her two goals really well…Showed her quality with either foot, left foot finish for the first, right foot finish for the second. She’s developing all the time. There is still room for improvement in her game but we’ve been really delighted with the way she’s started the season and we’re looking forward to that continuing. We have a good momentum, a good energy about our performances at the moment, and we got to try to carry that with us next weekend going up to Manchester United, who have had a terrific start of their own to the season.”"
The chemistry of the four main attackers for the Blues created all three goal-scoring chances. James was able to take the entire mid-week match off while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd filled in on the right flank. The depth and strength of this team are far greater than it possessed last season, and if the squad’s health can stay the way it is, it will take a special performance by the opposition to muster out a result.
Lauren James may be the most dangerous player on this Chelsea team
Watching the former Manchester United player with the ball at her feet this season is a performance in itself. James’ talent on the ball and one on one abilities open up an entirely different attacking threat compared to what CFC had without her last season. Even with all the fancy footwork, and creativity on the ball, this match against Aston Villa marked the first goals of James’ season.
She scored a magical goal in the preseason against Lyon, and with James back in the scoring column, there is no telling how many she’ll tally up in the foreseeable future. Not only did she net two world-class goals, but James also found Kerr for the game-clinching third goal, adding an assist to an already eventful afternoon at Kingsmeadow. Before the match even started, James led the team in dribbles and completed past an opponent with seven, collecting an astounding 70 percent success rate in that category even before the Aston Villa contest.
James has that “it” factor that this club was missing in last season’s early Champions League departure. As she rises in the ranks internationally, the 21-year-old has more than made up from her six appearances in the WSL last season with her exhilarating start to the season. Both of her finishes were precise and sublime, finding the bottom right corner on the first, and thrashing one past the goalkeeper to kick off the second half. The Blues travel to face her former club next weekend, and for a team as hot as Manchester United, Marc Skinner does not want any part of James attacking their backline.
Celebrations almost as good as the goals
In each match the CFCW continue to deliver when it comes to goal reactions. From James’ slide following her second goal of the afternoon to the basketball-themed celebration following the first goal, the Blues have the creativity after the goal to combine with the finish itself. Harder, Kerr, and James were pure comedy in the corner as Chelsea snatched the lead back, with Kerr posing on top of James’ back, creating an iconic picture.
While it is difficult to top the Kerr backflip, it is clear, this team has camaraderie like no other. Kerr lay on the ground following the third goal and proceeded to use her finger gun to shoot James who nicely created the whole opportunity, stealing it away from the Villains, and playing the ball through to Kerr. As the Blues begin to hit their stride, who knows how many more note-worthy celebrations are in the future?
The amount of fun this team is having, and how selfless each and every one on the pitch has created an environment of winning. Right about this point last season, piled the goals on before it all came to a screeching halt in the month of December. Reddy and even Emma Hayes from afar are prepared for the storm ahead. This team has a different energy about them compared to ones of the past. Whether it is the smiles on the pitch or the talent-rich starting IX, the Blues have something special, and the end of the road seems to be nowhere in sight.
Liverpool match feels like years ago
Surprisingly, just over a month ago, Chelsea began its season with a gutting loss to newly promoted Liverpool on the road. Since then, the Blues have outscored their opponents, 22 to three. From Harder getting injured in the warm-up against the Reds to the result at the end of the day, the first match week of the season was not one that CFC wanted to remember. Through experience and mental toughness, the Blues found a way to come out of the tunnel even stronger than before.
They used that loss to fuel them toward a more positive future. This team knows that it cannot change the past, and right now, the Chelsea Women are on a path to inform critics why this club has hoisted the WSL title the last three seasons. Despite the fact that the Blues’ matchup with the Reds was just about five weeks ago, the atmosphere around the club makes it seem like it was an event of the distant past.
Last season’s matchup against Villa at Kingsmeadow was as memorable as it gets, and while this year’s edition had some twists, and turns, the Blues made it clear who is the superior team. Against Liverpool, CFC did not finish the job, coming up with costly fouls in the box, and failing to execute in the attack when Liverpool responded with its first. The Blues have now found a way to react to the opposition’s counter-blow, demonstrating the tremendous growth in such a short period of time.