A Veerle Buurman own goal punished a profligate Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, securing a point for Aston Villa in a frustrating start to their WSL title push. How Villa came away with a point having conceded 64% possession and having amassed just seven shots to Chelsea’s 32 and five touches in the opposition box to the home team’s 57 is somewhat inexplicable. Chelsea were creative and Lauren James was at her free-flowing best, but they could not convert their many chances, and the new Aston Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma’s monumental performance was a big part of that.
Chelsea’s summer has been one of change after a somewhat transitional season, as players moved towards a sort of natural end to their time at the club. Heading into her third season in London, Sonia Bompastor’s stamp is firmly on her Chelsea team after a cautious approach to changes to the successful squad left by Emma Hayes. However, they have a problem up front, with Melvine Malard, who came off the bench and scored two in their Champions League home leg against Real Sociedad, out with an injury, Mayra Ramírez yet to make her return from a long injury lay-off, and Aggie Beever-Jones failing to make the most of the opportunity to lead the line in their absence.
If there was some rust in Chelsea’s 6-2 defeat of Real Sociedad across two legs it looked to have been firmly shaken off by that competitive appetiser to their new season. Ushering in a new era in front of 7,900 fans at Stamford Bridge, where they will play all their WSL home games for the first time, the Blues were rampant from the off. The aggressive and relentless pressing of Bompastor’s side in the opening half-hour caused all sorts of problems for Natalia Arroyo’s team, forcing error after error.
It was no surprise that that physical effort yielded results. In the 11th minute that pressure caused confusion between Okuma and the target of her pass out from the back and Ellie Carpenter pounced on the loose ball. She worked it to James who glided into the box, shifting her weight as she went, before lashing the ball into the roof of the net.
It was a statement goal from a statement player. James played with the guile, freedom, energy and joy that full fitness brings after a series of niggling issues in recent years that at times left her looking frustrated that her body couldn’t match her ability. A trip to Chelsea was always going to be tough for Villa, who started five of their eight signings, and they only began to look a little more comfortable and structured as the home team’s pressure eased off towards the end of the first half.
The scoreline at the break flattered the visiting team, who could have been down by more had Chelsea been more clinical. The profligacy in front of goal was frustrating for Bompastor’s team and Villa were clinging on for swathes of the second half. Okuma, signed from Japanese side INAC Kobe Lionesses, was key to keeping the margin to one goal, producing some fine saves, including pushing away Carpenter’s shot shortly after the hour mark.
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