Chelsea 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur
By Ruby Vince 20/10/24
Above: Tottenham Hotspur’s squad group together proir to Chelsea defeat. Photo: SpursWomen on X
Chelsea secured a dominant 5-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Kingsmeadow on October 20th, 2024, with a standout performance from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who scored twice.
Why were Chelsea so Successful?
Chelsea’s tactical approach and relentless energy set the tone for the game from the start. Sonia Bompastor’s side pressed Tottenham high up the pitch, forcing their defenders into mistakes and making it difficult for them to build play. Chelsea targeted Tottenham’s full-backs, with Maika Hamano and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd stretching the defence by making incisive runs down the wings. The early goal from Hamano in the ninth minute put Chelsea in the driver’s seat. Shortly after, Guro Reiten’s attempt was saved, but it showed how easily Chelsea could penetrate the Spurs backline.
Although Tottenham equalized through Amanda Nilden’s effort, Chelsea didn’t panic, continuing to push forward, and their pressure soon led to an own goal that restored their lead. Chelsea’s ability to maintain a fast tempo while exploiting the spaces Tottenham left in midfield gave them the upper hand. Players like Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert played key roles in dictating the pace, while Sandy Baltimore and Reiten constantly caused problems with their direct play. Chelsea’s defensive solidity, anchored by Bright, also ensured that Spurs struggled to get in behind.
Joanna Rytting Kaneryd’s Influence
Kaneryd was Chelsea’s most influential player, showcasing her ability to break down defences with skill, pace, and precision. From the opening whistle, she looked a constant threat, running at Tottenham’s backline and creating scoring opportunities. Tottenham’s left-back, Molly Bartrip, found it particularly hard to contain her, often getting beaten for pace and failing to close her down effectively.
Kaneryd’s first goal, in the 69th minute, came from clever positioning. As Tottenham’s defence left her unmarked in a dangerous area, she latched onto a pass before finishing with composure. She then completed her brace in stoppage time, with a solo run that saw her dribble past multiple defenders and fire high into the roof of the net. Kaneryd’s intelligence and quick feet made her unstoppable, and her presence gave Chelsea the cutting edge needed to turn dominance into goals.
What could Tottenham have done?
A more compact shape in defence could have helped Spurs deal with the relentless wide attacks from Kaneryd and Hamano. Their decision to play a higher line left them vulnerable to the pace of Chelsea’s wingers, which allowed Chelsea to exploit the space behind Tottenham’s full-backs. Tottenham could have provided more support for Bartrip, who struggled in one-on-one duels against Kaneryd- deploying an additional defensive midfielder to help cover the wide areas might have helped nullify Chelsea’s threats down the flanks. Additionally, Spurs needed to close down Chelsea’s midfielders quicker to disrupt their passing rhythm and reduce the service to the dangerous wide players.
Offensively, Tottenham showed glimpses of quality, but they were often forced to play on the counterattack due to Chelsea’s control of the midfield. The introduction of Martha Thomas and Lena Gunning-Williams brought some fresh legs in the second half, but Tottenham failed to sustain their attacking momentum. If Spurs had been more aggressive in closing down Chelsea’s midfield and applied more pressure higher up the pitch, they might have limited Chelsea’s ability to control possession and dictate the game.
Chelsea’s victory over Tottenham was a statement of their tactical prowess and depth in quality. With Kaneryd leading the charge, Chelsea exploited Tottenham’s defensive frailties and produced a clinical display of finishing. Despite Tottenham’s best efforts, they were ultimately outclassed by a Chelsea side determined to assert their dominance in the league. Spurs will need to address their defensive issues and find a way to disrupt teams like Chelsea if they are to challenge for higher positions this season.
Teams: CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Hampton, Baltimore, Bright (c), Buchanan, Bronze, Cuthbert, Nüsken, Reiten, Hamano, Kaneryd, Ramírez. Substitutes used: Beever-Jones, Alejandra Bernabé, Jean-François, Kaptein, Lawrence, Mpome
Scorers: Hamano 10’, OG 44’, Kaneryd 70’, 90+1’, Baltimore 74’
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1): Spencer, Nildén, Hunt, Bartrip, Neville, Summanen, Ahtinen, Vinberg, Spence, Naz, England (c). Substitutes used: Gunning-Williams, Morris, Thomas
Scorers: Nilden 21’, Summanen 84’
Referee: Emily Heaslip
impetusfootball.org 