Sports
CHELSEA thrashed Everton at Goodison Park in the Women’s Super League to maintain their perfect start to the season under new boss Sonia Bompastor.
The defending WSL champions set the tone from kick-off with Aggie Beever-Jones forcing a save from Courtney Brosnan with just 37 seconds on the clock.
The Blues forward then notched the opener in the 14th minute and the chances continued to flow with Kadeisha Buchanan, Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten all going close.
Scot Cuthbert made certain of her second opportunity two minutes before half-time, guiding the ball into the bottom corner after picking the pocket of Everton defender Veatriki Sarri.
Chelsea went into the break with a three-goal advantage after Reiten stretched to turn in at the back post in added time.
The visitors continued to press for further goals and eventually got them late in the second half after twice being denied by the woodwork.
Substitute Wieke Kaptein smashed in the fourth with eight minutes left and Ashley Lawrence had a tap-in just a minute later to wrap up a high-scoring triumph.
Chelsea moved above Brighton into second spot in the WSL, a point adrift of leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, while Everton remain bottom on two points after six games.
Beever-Jones provides striking selection headache
Succeeding Emma Hayes at Chelsea was always going to be a tall order, but Bompastor, who led Lyon to three league titles and the Champions League, has slotted in seamlessly.
Chelsea are oozing confidence in their performances and appear hungrier than ever to defend their WSL crown, having only edged out Manchester City on goal difference last season.
City sit top of the standings and look their closest challengers once again in 2024-25 after Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten start to six matches.
Chelsea will move two points clear of City if they win their game in hand.
It seems Bompastor’s toughest task is trying to keep her squad happy with so many options available to the Frenchwoman.
Former Everton loanee Beever-Jones is a prime example of that.
The England striker, 21, has scored on each of her three starts this season, including a fine header to get them up and running on Merseyside.
Beever-Jones once again gave Bompastor plenty to mull over with regular starter Mayra Ramirez waiting in the wings to come back in when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
“That’s the high level, you have to compete in the club and in the national team,” Bompastor said of Beever-Jones to Sky Sports.
“She has a lot of quality, she is able to score and help the team to possess the ball. She just needs to trust herself more sometimes.
“She will have all the opportunities to start games and to make an impact for the team so I am really happy for her. I think it will be good for her confidence as well.”
No Everton player has scored this season – an own goal from West Ham’s Camila Saez the only one to celebrate – and there was little evidence to suggest they could breach the tightest defence in the division.
It was one-way traffic for the highest scorers in the WSL as Chelsea glided through the gears to seal all three points.
Cuthbert’s ambition to press high was rewarded when she stole possession and finished well, while Norwegian Reiten’s goal was the result of cute build-up play.
After Johanna Rytting Kaneryd struck the post and Sandy Baltimore rattled the crossbar, Everton looked set to get off lightly.
However, two goals in 80 seconds piled further misery on the hosts.
Dutch substitute Kaptein seized the opportunity to get her first goal for the club and Everton looked out on their feet when full-back Lawrence turned in unmarked from close range.
– BBCSport
A.I
Nov. 4, 2024
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