Chelsea claimed the bragging rights in the Women’s Super League’s first London derby between the Blues and Tottenham in front of an impressive crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Bethany England’s superb early strike was enough to secure an opening day win, though many expected it to be by a far more comfortable margin. Spurs, making their debut at this level, can take a lot from their efforts and, with a touch more quality, could have had a point to go with their pride.
Emma Hayes’ side are out to claim back the WSL title from Arsenal this season, and made quite the start to doing so. Newly appointed captain Magdalena Eriksson firing inches wide after just two minutes before Spurs defender Hannah Godfrey was forced into an awkward header back to keeper Becky Spencer.
Inside five minutes, however, and Chelsea had made their mark. England pouncing on some sloppy play from Ria Pecival before whipping a wonderful strike into the far corner that would have left any WSL side, let alone one taking their first steps in the division, helpless.
From there the pattern remained largely the same, the hosts dominant in possession and beating Spurs to everything. Both sharper and more intelligent in and out of possession, their pressing leaving Tottenham rather incapable of grasping a hold on the contest for the opening half an hour.
Chelsea should have doubled their lead when, after Guro Reiten’s cut back was allowed to run across the entire Spurs box, Hannah Blundell’s finish meant it was a straightforward stop for Spencer.
Spurs were, at least, largely restricting their hosts to half-chances. The dominance of Chelsea had perhaps left them a little complacent at the back, goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger should have done better in parrying a driven effort from Kit Graham, the Blues fortunate there was no one in white following up in the box.
Chelsea were lucky on that occasion, but took control once more, Reiten taking aim from a similar spot to England and drawing a good stop from Spencer, diving to her right, just before the break.
There were concerns that the crowd at Stamford Bridge would not have been treated to an engaging, competitive encounter, such was the expectation that Chelsea would run away with this one. Despite the Blues continuing to take the lion’s share of the ball, Spurs continued to battle and look to pose a threat on the break, Rachel Furness perhaps should have levelled shortly after the interval when firing across Berger’s goal, the German this time saving well.
As Spurs began to grow in confidence there was a sharp reminder from Chelsea as to the threat they possess, Drew Spence hitting one from long range, Spencer doing well to tip it onto the bar, before Reiten followed up with a header onto the post, still Spurs remained just one back.
Hayes turned to young Erin Cuthbert, who recovered from injury ahead of schedule to make the bench here, to try and put some distance between them and Tottenham, though still there was no way to find a second.
Three points and an impressive display from both rivals in front of a huge crowd is all that mattered here, however, and that was duly delivered. There is a sense that this season is about far more than who wins the title, opening up the game to more record audiences the key. Chelsea, though, wouldn’t mind another trophy to go with that larger crowd this term.
