Chelsea Women 6-0 Villa: 3 standout players from conclusive win

3 standout players from Chelsea Women’s third consecutive Women’s Super League win

1. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd

From the minute she came into the match against the Seagulls at Kingsmeadow, the Swedish international was lively. No. 19 simply carried that over into this weekend. With James out to due a concussion she suffered during the hiatus, Kaneryd occupied the right flank along with French international Eve Perisset. It was more than her just moving into James position. The former BK Hacken attacker earned this playing time through the spark she provided off the bench at Kingsmeadow last time out.

The 26-year-old constantly asked questions of the Villa backline, getting in behind and using her speed to create four chances for the away side. That speed was on full display as the Swede finished off her first goal of the campaign. Catch her if you can. The Villains couldn’t. Frankly, few can.

The run was what made the goal special, but it was nothing without the finish. The way she stayed composed, and fired her shot into the bottom left corner was Goal of the Month worthy. Later on in the match, Kaneryd used her quickness and persistence on the ball to find Niamh Charles for the sixth and final goal of the contest.

2. Fran Kirby

They don’t just call her “Super Fran” for fun. In a week where the club put on a video about Kirby’s road back to the pitch, the English international pieced together an inspiring display. Even with No. 14 drilling the woodwork, you just felt her time was going to come.

Just five minutes after the opening breakthrough, it finally did. She was the club’s Player of the Match for a reason. The English forward/midfielder put five of her six shots on frame while touching the ball in the opposition’s penalty box more than anybody else. Donning her signature black gloves, Kirby was a constant thorn in Villa’s side. She often did not have a strict position, but for the most part, No. 14 acted as the No. 10 just behind Fishel who led the forward line.

On any other day, Kirby may have converted two or maybe three chances. Just two minutes after play resumed for the second 45 minutes, the English international placed it perfectly into the bottom corner, but the offside flag denied her of a second. She did all of this in less than 60 minutes between the white lines. It’s difficult not to smile when you see Kirby having this much joy on a football pitch. This is what she was meant to do.

To be able to overcome setback after setback, and still perform at this level takes one special human. To think this could be her final season in blue is tough to comprehend, but that only makes performances like these ones we all have to appreciate that much more.