Chelsea triumph in top-of-the-table clash to lead the WSL

Chelsea secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Women's Super League (WSL) on Saturday, climbing to the top of the table with a game in hand. Goals from Mayira Ramirez and Guro Reiten at Stamford Bridge extended their 100% winning start to the season, demonstrating why they are still the team to beat. Having turned losses from previous seasons into victories, Sonia Bompastor completed the set with a masterclass against City.

Heading into the match, Chelsea trailed the visitors by a single point. In a surprising team selection, Nathalie Björn partnered captain Millie Bright at center-back, with standout defender Kadeisha Buchanan missing out entirely due to injury. The rest of the lineup featured familiar faces, and in front of nearly 20,000 fans, Chelsea proved their mettle.

The match began cautiously, with both sides testing the waters. As expected, City dominated possession, but much of their play was restricted to the backline, with Alex Greenwood, Alanna Kennedy, and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita exchanging passes. Chelsea avoided falling into the trap of pressing too high, knowing it could leave space for City’s midfielders like Yui Hasegawa to exploit. Even when Maika Hamano and Mayira Ramirez pressed, they blocked passing lanes to Hasegawa and Jill Roord.

Chelsea’s first-half attacks primarily came through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, though the final touches often faltered. Meanwhile, City’s best chances resulted from unforced errors, including poor back passes by Santi Baltimore and Maika Hamano.

Second-Half Brilliance

The second half saw Chelsea step up their intensity after a tactical halftime talk by Bompastor. The Blues created several opportunities and pressed higher up the pitch. The breakthrough came on a counterattack: a quick clearance from the back found Hamano, who played Ramirez through on goal. Kennedy stumbled during his attempt to block the Colombian, leaving Greenwood—already on a yellow card for an earlier foul on Ramirez—helpless as the striker raced into the box and finished with precision.

Chelsea continued to push forward, and Reiten extended the lead after capitalizing on a cleared corner. Lucy Bronze collected the loose ball and delivered a pinpoint pass to the Norwegian, who slotted it home with ease.

Defensive Masterclass

Chelsea’s defensive solidity was key to neutralizing City’s 10-match winning streak. Khadija Shaw, City’s top scorer, was effectively marked out of the game by Bright and Björn. Playing out of position again, Baltimore excelled in shutting down Aoba Fujino at left-back. Meanwhile Lucy Bronze was outstanding on the right, limiting Mary Fowler’s impact. City managed just one meaningful attack from Bronze’s side deep into injury time, showing how good the English right-back was throughout the match. Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, celebrating her birthday, had little to do in an otherwise quiet outing.

In midfield, Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nüsken controlled the tempo with relentless energy and sharp passing. Youngster Maika Hamano once again showcased her importance, tirelessly pressing high and ensuring Hasegawa’s influence was minimal. Up front, Ramirez proved a constant menace with her speed, strength, and skill, leaving City’s defenders struggling to cope.

City’s Gareth Taylor introduced Chloe Kelly and Laura Coombs late in the game, but neither substitute could alter the outcome. Bompastor’s meticulous game plan to counter City’s possession-based football worked to perfection, as Chelsea maintained discipline and composure to claim all three points. The home fans were excellent in their support.

A Record-Breaking Start

The win marked Chelsea’s 10th consecutive victory across all competitions this season under Bompastor, making her the first WSL manager to win their first seven league games. It was also the team's 13th consecutive win in all competitions. However, the day wasn’t without disappointment. Bompastor revealed post-match that Kadeisha Buchanan had ruptured her ACL in the previous week’s game against Liverpool, making her the fifth senior player sidelined with the injury. The team’s performance highlighted their mental strength in overcoming such adversity.

What’s Next?

Chelsea now turn their attention to the Women’s Champions League, hosting Celtic at Stamford Bridge before facing Manchester United at Kingsmeadow next weekend in the WSL. Victories in both matches would extend Bompastor’s flawless start to 15 wins. A win against Man United will also give Chelsea a commanding five-point lead in the WSL heading into the international break.