3 Takeaways as Chelsea Women go top with win over West Ham
In dominant fashion on the road in east London, the Chelsea Women made another step forward to their fourth straight Women’s Super League.
When the schedule begins to shrink, Emma Hayes’ side gets better and better. For the third time against West Ham United, the Blues defeated their London rivals by multiple goals. Four different players found the back of the net while the west Londoners’ defense kept the opposition off the scoresheet for the fourth consecutive match in all competitions. The 4-0 triumph propels the Blues past Manchester United and into the top spot of the WSL.
With both clubs having two games remaining in the league, the west London outfit has a two-point advantage. For the third straight contest in the WSL, the opposition failed to collect more than three shots on net. The Irons struggled from the kick-off to string passes together in the middle of the park. Paul Konchesky’s side accumulated less than 260 passes in their penultimate home contest. Only one player who contributed over 60 minutes on Wednesday night for the home side completed over 80 percent of her passes.
Sophie Ingle at the base of the midfield bossed the east Londoners’ who are second to last in the league in total passes completed so far in the 2022/2023. The Welsh international collected an astounding 14 progressive passes while finding the back of the net and playing creator for Pernille Harder minutes after halftime. It was Ingle’s third game in the last five in which she played a part of all 90 minutes.
Passion personified! 😤#CFCW pic.twitter.com/Uz5bnwiORM
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 17, 2023
For the eighth time in the last 10 league contests, the Irons had an xG under one. The east London outfit had the first shot of the match in the 11′, which forced the attention of Zecira Musovic. After that, Konchesky’s team never found the target.
In five out of the last seven WSL games, the east London side has now conceded two or more goals. Hayes rotated seven players into the starting XI from the FA Cup final on Sunday afternoon, providing some of her most critical pieces, especially in the midfield some rest ahead of what is looked at as the last big challenge of the league campaign. Here are three takeaways from the Blues’ second triumph at the Chigwell Construction Stadium this season.