Chelsea 3-2 Roma: 3 talking points from positive pre-season start

Under a pristine London sunset, Chelsea Women head off to Portugal for pre-season training camp with a triumph under its belt. It was a contest defined by world-class goals that saw the west Londoners capture the last laugh through a late finish by youngster Aggie Beever-Jones.

The defending Serie A champions, AS Roma took the lead twice. Neither time it was able to hold on to it. Guro Reiten equalized with a rocket off her left foot followed by Lauren James who did not skip a beat coming back from her standout World Cup. The English attacker intelligently chipped the goalkeeper from quite a ways out after receiving a crisp pass from Sophia Ingle that found its way between two defenders.

Even with a few key absentees from the team including Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, and Erin Cuthbert, Emma Hayes named an extremely strong starting XI. The English manager made nine substitutions throughout the match, leaving Ingle, and Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.

One of the storylines heading into the contest was the experiment with VAR in women’s football in England for the first time at a Women’s Super League venue. The technology was needed in the second half as a handball by the Italians was first ruled a penalty before the call changed into a free kick just outside the box. The first time it was used in the country was back in May for the 2023 Women’s FA Cup Final when Kerr’s goal proved to be the difference against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

It was sloppy at times, but overall the English outfit left onlookers with plenty think about with this being the last friendly match before Tottenham Hotspur heads to Stamford Bridge for opening day. Here are three things to discuss as the Blues register a triumph less than a month before the kick-off to the WSL campaign.

3 Chelsea Women talking points from positive pre-season start

3. Bringing in Mia Fishel was the right decision

Other than not finding the back of the net, the American youngster Mia Fishel was brilliant up top in her first contest in Chelsea blue. The west London outfit’s new No. 2 was brought in as the potential future replacement for Kerr in the front line. Many did not know what to make of the signing given it was from Liga MX Femenil, the Mexican top flight that is just six years young. From her 64 minutes in blue, it seems as if the transition to European football is going to be a somewhat seamless.

Fishel’s holdup play from the striker position was a massive standout from her play under the lights on Sunday evening. She used her body incredibly well to shield the defender off the ball, giving her space to find a pass back or forward.

Just when you thought she lost the ball, the forward would fight to earn it right back. In addition to her contribution to her side’s buildup play, Fishel had numerous chances via the left foot of Reiten to open up her non competitive account in west London. Whether it was heading the ball just wide of the net, or missing with her leg outstretched, the American’s debut goal in blue may not earlier in the season rather than later.

2. German Sjoeke Nüsken has that “it” factor

After not seeing much time with her nation in the World Cup this summer, German midfielder Sjoeke Nusken demonstrated just how valuable she could be this season. The Blues’ new No. 6 was aggressive when it came to pressing, calm in her distribution, and determined carrying the ball forward.

From the minute that she subbed on at the end of the first 45 minutes, it was clear why she led the entire Frauen-Bundesliga in tackles plus interceptions. It looks like no matter where Hayes deploys her come the beginning of the campaign, she has the capability to make a difference. When Cuthbert is back on the team sheet, every manager in the English top-flight should be shaking if her and Nusken were to play alongside each other. Many had no idea Eve Perisset was going to be the signing of the summer last year. That could be the same type of storyline for Nusken.

1. Fran Kirby is not only back, she’s ready to compete

The last time the English forward/midfielder Fran Kirby stepped between the white lines of a football pitch was back on February 9. Not for a minute did it look like the west London legend was just returning from to the starting lineup. She made it back in time for pre-season, and that hard work without question paid off.

She contributed 77 minutes, far more than anyone would have expected due to her knee and the fact that it is pre-season. If she looks like this now, there is no telling what version of Kirby the WSL is going to get in a few weeks time. The English star bagged an assist, leaving it off to Reiten to set up the opening goal in front of the home fans.

With her healthy, Hayes has endless possibilities for midfield combinations throughout the season. If it was not for the involvement of former Tottenham goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela, she would have put one in the back of the net on her return. It was as if the injury no time had passed between her last appearance and this one.