Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
by Ben Gilby at Kingsmeadow (28/8/22)
Above: Chelsea’s Maren Mjelde looks to block Spurs’ Nikola Karczewska at Kingsmeadow this afternoon. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
A Chelsea team without a host of international players overcame Tottenham Hotspur in a largely lacklustre pre-season friendly in the warm late summer sun at Kingsmeadow.
With a FIFA window in the coming days, Emma Hayes left out the likes of Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Magda Eriksson, Jessie Fleming, Niamh Charles, Sam Kerr, and Kadeisha Buchanan. Lionesses Jess Carter and Beth England were selected and there was a chance for fans to see new signings Ève Périsset and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd on home soil for the first time.
This was a typical pre-season friendly – pretty flat with occasional explosions of action. One of the real positives for the Blues was the presence of Swedish international Rytting Kaneryd who offered a glimpse of the bag of tricks she has at her disposal. Her jinking runs, ability to turn on a five-pence piece and beat defenders, marks her out as a player who will be a real handful in the WSL this season.
Chelsea dominated the possession and territory in the first half. The approach play was far more ponderous than we will see once the regular season is underway. The home side did have two goals for their efforts thanks to Pernille Harder and a welcome return to the scoresheet for newly called up Lioness Lauren James.
Just before the break, Carter allowed Nikola Karczewska to get through into the box, her effort beat Zećira Mušović in the Chelsea goal, but a superb piece of chasing back from captain for the afternoon Maren Mjelde was rewarded with a sensational goalline clearance.
Spurs offered more after the break. Karczewska needed close attention and substitute Kyah Simon was a creative force, but the North London side will need to improve their final ball once the real action gets started.
With a break for international action, the WSL gets underway on the weekend of 10th September. Chelsea will welcome West Ham United to the men’s Stamford Bridge stadium with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Manchester United at their men’s 62,850 capacity home.
Teams: CHELSEA: Mušović, Nouwen, Carter, England, James, Reiten, Périsset, Rytting Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Harder. Substitutes: Orman, Akpan, Blades, Potter.
Scorers: Harder 15′, James 39′.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Spencer, Ale, Turner, Bartrip, Zadorsky, Neville, James, Spence, Naz, Ayane, Karczewska. Substitutes: Korpela, Heeps, Pearse, Summanen, Cho, Petzelberger, Simon, Brazil, Bizet.
Referee: Lee Markwick.
Attendance: 2,400.
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