Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
By Freya Hiscott (23/03/25)
Above: Erin Cuthbert celebrating after securing three points for Chelsea. Photo: Chelsea Women on Instagram
Erin Cuthbert’s header sealed a 2-1 victory in injury-time for Chelsea in their WSL fixture against Manchester City after a dominant second-half performance saw them come from behind.
Since Vivianne Miedema’s brace inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat this season in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final tie, Chelsea came out looking to retain their winning ways. The defeat at the Joie Stadium ended Chelsea’s 31-game unbeaten streak and it was Chelsea manager, Sonia Bompastor’s first loss since joining the club from Lyon last year.
The impact of Kerolin Nicoli
Above: Kerolin celebrating with City fans after her opening goal. Photo: Manchester City Women on Instagram
Kerolin Nicoli recently signed for this Manchester City side in the January transfer window, joining from NWSL club North Carolina Courage. Kerolin had two notable chances in early minutes of the game where she was pressing hard on Chelsea’s defence and driving the ball into their half.
Nick Cushing’s team looked as though they would secure a back-to-back victory as City were dominant in attack throughout the first half. Kerolin Nicoli was instrumental in leading the attack and scored the opening goal for the blues in the 32nd minute. Kerolin received the ball on the right edge of Chelsea’s box and skilfully slotted the ball through Chelsea captain, Millie Bright’s legs into the bottom left corner of the net, marking her first WSL goal since joining this City side.
Shortly after Kerolin was involved in a move that saw Jess Park controversially have a goal disallowed. Kerolin was fouled by Bright on the edge of the box, when the ball fell to Park as she curled it into the back of the net. However, referee Kirsty Dowle had already blown for a foul on Kerolin and called for a free kick, which subsequently left the score line remaining 1-0 to City going into half time.
Chelsea’s second half dominant display
With a compelling lead in the top spot of the WSL table, Chelsea could afford a draw but as typical champions they fought for the win, as they look to lift their sixth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
Chelsea came out in full force after having zero shots on target in the first half and they were awarded when Beever-Jones found the back of the net with the help of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s skilful cutback. City were quick to suffer the consequences of not closing Chelsea down fast enough as Beever-Jones’s goal meant it was level early on in the second half.
Khiara Keating was one of City’s notable star players as she heroically saved goals from Wieke Kaptein, Lauren James and Rytting Kaneryd. However, it took Chelsea substitute, Erin Cuthbert to finish the game off when she came on in the 55th minute to replace Maika Hamano.
Ashley Lawrence’s cross into the far corner met Cuthbert’s head as she directed it straight into the back of the net with only a couple of minutes of injury-time left to play.
Manchester City now sit seven points away from top three, fighting for a spot in the Champion’s League next season.
Interim head coach Cushing will be looking to tighten up defensively especically in counterattacks as City struggled to maintain possession in the latter stages of the game. City showed that whilst they can trouble Chelsea, they’ll need to maintain dominance throughout if they want to progress in the Champion’s League and salvage their chances of silverware this season. The blues will head down to Chelsea on Thursday to close off what will be their fourth fixture against Chelsea this month across various competitions. City are already 2-0 up on aggregate and will push to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Lineups:
CITY (4-3-3): Keating, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (Captain), Layzell. Hasegawa, Roord, Coombs, Kerolin, Park, Miedema
Scorer: Kerolin (32′)
Substitutes: Annets, Startup, Ouahabi (89′), Fowler (58′), Weinroither (80′), Oyama, Murphy (80′), Davies
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Hampton, Lawrence, Bright (Captain), Bronze, Charles, Jean-Francois, Kaptein, James, Hamano, Kaneryd, Beever-Jones
Substitutes: Spencer, Bjorn, Baltimore, Walsh (63′), Cuthbert (55′), Macario (87′), Nusken, Fishel (87′), Ramirez (63′)
Scorers: Beever-Jones (49′) Cuthbert (90+1′)
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
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