Manchester City were left to rue missed chances and late injuries as defending champions Chelsea kicked off the new WSL season in winning style.
The Blues took the lead in the first-half through Aggie Beever-Jones, converting from a flat cross by new signing Ellie Carpenter, who is already proving a shrewd investment after a standout display.
Momentum looked to be turning in City's favour after Alex Greenwood rattled the bar with a free-kick, but it would be the hosts who would get the game's crucial second goal courtesy of Maika Hasano.
City were handed a lifeline when Niamh Charles headed into her own net to reduce the deficit, but Sonia Bompastor's side were able to grit out the win, with new City manager Andree Jeglertz's woes compounded by two late injury blows to Greenwood and Lily Murphy.
Follow all the action from Stamford Bridge below:
Chelsea vs Man City LIVE
- Chelsea begin their bid for a seventh successive WSL title against Man City | Live on Sky Sports
- Sam Kerr returns to the squad after nearly two years out
- 70' GOAL! Niamh Charles nods into her own net to give City a lifeline [CHE 2-1 MCI]
- 64' GOAL! Maika Hamano doubles Chelsea's lead amid City pressure [CHE 2-0 MCI]
- 31' GOAL! Aggie Beever-Jones puts the defending champions in front [CHE 1-0 MCI]
- Chelsea XI: Hampton; Carpenter, Bright, Bjorn, Charles; Walsh, Cuthbert; Kaptein, Hamano, Baltimore; Beever-Jones
- Man City XI: Yamashita; Rose, Prior, Greenwood; Casparij, Hasegawa, Lohmann, Murphy; Hemp, Miedema, Shaw
Report: Chelsea grit out victory over Man City in injury-marred WSL opener
23:00 , Will CastleChampions Chelsea overcame a nervy final 20 minutes to get their WSL campaign underway with victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Read the full report below:
Chelsea grit out victory over Man City in injury-marred WSL opener
Sonia Bompastor reaching new heights
22:40 , Will CastleSonia Bompastor has become the fastest manager to ever reach 20 wins in the WSL.
And we thought Chelsea might struggle without Emma Hayes...
Aggie Beever-Jones hails 'outstanding' Ellie Carpenter
22:30 , Will Castle"Ellie put it on a plate for me,” Beever-Jones told Sky Sports. “It was incredible. I thought Ellie was outstanding today. I'm delighted to come away with a win and start the season strong.
"I think for me, Ellie is a world-class player and genuinely one of the quickest players ever, so I knew she was going to get there. For me, it was about keeping my head and putting it in the back of the net.
"Watching it again, Ellie's put it on a plate, so I've got to say many thanks to her but it's about doing a good pre-season and we're ready to start a good campaign. We're feeling good with ourselves and we're happy.
Worrying scenes in the final moments
22:20 , Will CastleHoping Lily Murphy’s injury isn’t nearly as serious as it looks.
Ellie Carpenter on 'jelling' with her new team
22:10 , Will Castle"We're playing with a five back, so it allows me to get up more in attack,” the player of the match said. “We've been working a lot in training and pre-season for six weeks.
"Obviously, the early cross in behind and Aggie [Beever-Jones] tapped it in, so made me look good. Very happy with the win. We wanted to start strong and get the three points and we did that."
"Pre-season was hard. It was actually my first pre-season I've ever done with a team. It was really nice to create those relationships with the team, being new. I think we worked on those foundations and really jelling as a team."
Man City left to rue missed chances
22:00 , Will Castle
Chelsea grit out victory in WSL opener
21:40 , Will Castle
FULL-TIME! Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:33 , Will CastleThere goes the whistle and Chelsea begin their sixth successive title defence in winning style.
Concern for Andree Jeglertz after two late injuries, with the latter to Lily Murphy looking particularly serious.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:32 , Will Castle90+13 mins: City have used up all their subs so are down to 10. Let’s see how long we have left to play.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:31 , Will Castle90+12 mins: Murphy gets a standing ovation as she’s stretchered off.
Let’s pray that isn’t as serious as it looks.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:29 , Will Castle90+8 mins: The game is still yet to get back underway. The referee is explaining the situation to both captains.
Hannah Hampton was frantically waving for the physios to come on for a considerable amount of time before the game was stopped.
Murphy still hasn’t been able to be removed from the pitch. This looks really bad for the youngster.
The stretcher is on. The last way we wanted this game to end.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:25 , Will Castle90+5 mins: Another big injury blow for City late on here.
After Chelsea got it down the other end, Murphy goes down and looks in serious agony.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:23 , Will Castle90+3 mins: Alex Greenwood has gone down after feeling a jolt and has immediately signalled to the bench.
After seeing last term so plagued by injury, this is the last thing Man City want to see.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:21 , Will Castle90+1 mins: Flag goes up against Bunny Shaw as the ball is lofted forward, giving Chelsea a chance to slow things down.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:20 , Will Castle90 mins: City camping in Chelsea’s half but they’re running out of time.
FIVE minutes added on.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:19 , Will Castle88 mins: Niamh Charles goes down holding her ankle but is back up as the Blues try and tough this win out.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:15 , Will Castle85 mins: Two more changes.
City prodigy Beney replaces Miedema, while Kaptein comes off for Nusken for Chelsea.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:14 , Will Castle84 mins: SAVE! Hemp bends one to force another big save out of Hampton, and Greenwood can’t get the right connection on the awkward rebound.
The chances are coming - can City take one?
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:13 , Will Castle83 mins: Andree Jeglertz will be frustrated if his new side leave Stamford Bridge empty-handed tonight.
They’ve had 15 shots to Chelsea’s seven, but their conversion rate has let them down.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:10 , Will Castle79 mins: CLOSE! Another big moment for Bunny Shaw, who receives it in the box and takes aim.
Just over from the Jamaican as she lashes into the Shed End.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:08 , Will Castle78 mins: A few changes to note.
Chelsea have made a double switch, bringing Baltimore and Cuthbert off for Rytting Kaneryd and Jean-Francis. Cuthbert came off in some agony.
For City, debutant Lohmann makes way for Blindkilde Brown.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
21:05 , Will Castle75 mins: Carpenter wins a free-kick on the edge of the area and the delivery causes trouble, with pinball ensuing around the six-yard box.
City manage to clear and keep the deficit at just the one.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Man City (Charles OG, 70')
21:01 , Will CastleAnd just like that, it’s a lifeline for the visitors!
Alex Greenwood produces a perfect free-kick delivery to cause chaos in the Chelsea box, and while no City defender can get on the end of it, Niamh Charles does.
The Blues defender takes her eye off the ball and nods into her own net, and the deficit is reduced to one.
Chelsea 2-0 Man City
21:07 , Will Castle68 mins: A half-chance for City there. Shaw receives it in the box and can’t get a shot away - but if she had left it, the ball would have rolled through to Hasegawa who was in good space.
It looked like the midfielder called for it as well.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Man City (Hamano, 64')
20:55 , Will CastleAfter all that City pressure, it’s Chelsea who get the crucial second goal!
Macario slips it down the right for Kaptein, who fires it into the middle aiming for the substitute striker.
She fails to get any contact on the ball but the delivery runs all the way through to Hamano, who in acres of space has a simple finish.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:52 , Will Castle62 mins: CHANCE! Beever-Jones takes play up the other end but is frustrated with her finish as she fires over the bar.
It proves to be her final action of the night as she is replaced by Macario.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:51 , Will Castle60 mins: Man City once again forcing it into the Chelsea box but Murphy can’t get it past Carpenter and the attack fizzles out.
Of the last 10 attempts, City have had nine of them. They’re piling the pressure on.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:44 , Will Castle54 mins: CLOSE! Just wide from Hasegawa who flicks on a low delivery by Hemp but can’t find the far corner!
She’s playing with plenty of confidence - but as of yet, the finishing touch eludes her.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:42 , Will Castle52 mins: Khadija Shaw is getting increasingly frustrated as she heads Greenwood’s deep corner wide.
Whether she’s annoyed at herself or the service, she’s not a happy Bunny... sorry.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:39 , Will Castle49 mins: Hannah Hampton needs to be sharp there as Hasegawa runs onto the falling ball and volleys goalwards.
It’s straight down the keeper’s throat as she parries away, but if that was anywhere but the centre, Hampton would have been in real trouble.
BACK UNDERWAY! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:35 , Will CastleWe’re off again at Stamford Bridge.
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:29 , Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:21 , Will CastleDefending champions Chelsea go into the break with the lead over potential challengers Manchester City.
Aggie Beever-Jones’ strike is all that separates the two teams at half-time with new signing Ellie Carpenter already proving a shrewd investment, putting it on a plate for the Blues sharpshooter.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:19 , Will Castle45+3 mins: CLOSE! Miedema with one final glance at goal for the first half for City.
She squares up to shoot after driving from halfway but can only fire past the post, with her effort pinging off the advertising board.
That should be that for the first 45!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:17 , Will Castle45 mins: We’ll have THREE minutes added on for the first half.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:15 , Will Castle43 mins: Closing in on half-time and while Man City are still pushing for an equaliser, Chelsea seem to have ridden out the worst of the storm.
That said, the ball was just given away in their own final third - sloppy mistakes they may struggle to keep getting away with.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:07 , Will Castle36 mins: OFF THE BAR! So close to an equaliser for Man City.
Greenwood stands over the free-kick and whips it over the wall, with it looking destined to fly into the top-right corner.
Instead, it rattles the bar with Hampton beaten.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
20:04 , Will Castle33 mins: SAVE! City nearly strike back immediately!
Bunny Shaw breaks into the box from the restart and Hampton has to stand up to the effort to deny the Jamaican sharpshooter.
Just like that, a warning sign.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Man City (Beever-Jones, 31')
20:03 , Will CastleIt’s been coming!
The champions have the lead and it’s the girl leading the line, Aggie Beever-Jones, who gets on the scoresheet.
She probably won’t score an easier goal this season though, with Ellie Carpenter providing a superb flat delivery to put it on a plate.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:59 , Will Castle26 mins: Chelsea are well in control now.
The Blues gain possession in City’s final third, giving them a chance to break into the box with Hamano on the ball.
She has Carpenter in acres of space to her right, but instead tries to be smart and reverse it to Baltimore, a pass which is cut out.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:50 , Will Castle18 mins: SAVE! Huge stop by Yamashita to stop Baltimore’s deflected strike from inside the box!
It’s really well taken by Baltimore, who turns her defender and bends towards the far corner - but Yamashita is equal to it.
Replays show that the ball did in fact strike Prior on the arm which is away from her body. Take nothing away from the save, but City have got away with one there.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:46 , Will Castle15 mins: Worrying look to the bench from Yamashita who appears to have injured her shoulder.
Keating gets up and is ready to get stripped, but City’s No 1 gives the OK to continue. One to keep an eye on.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:43 , Will Castle12 mins: Really nice work from Baltimore to chop back and forth with the ball before delivering - good take by City stopper Yamashita to quell the danger.
It’s been a bright start.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:42 , Will Castle10 mins: Another Chelsea corner headed away, but this one falls to Walsh who fires a half-volleyed shot that is nodded by a City defender and goes over the bar.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:39 , Will Castle8 mins: First Chelsea attack sees Carpenter drive down the right wing before delivering towards Beever-Jones.
It goes over the forward’s head after a moment of hesitation but Casparij nevertheless hooks out for a corner.
Nothing comes from the corner, but better from the champions.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:37 , Will Castle6 mins: Chelsea beginning to control the ball a bit more after an early spell of City dominance.
Ticking it around the back at the moment.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:34 , Will Castle3 mins: SAVE! First shot goes City’s way as Bunny Shaw is slotted through.
With Bright and Hampton to beat, she fires for the far corner and it’s well parried away by the Lionesses stopper.
All City so far, it must be said.
KICK-OFF! Chelsea 0-0 Man City
19:31 , Will CastleTHE 2025/26 WSL SEASON IS UNDERWAY!
The players are out
19:28 , Will CastleBoth sets of players are welcomed to the Stamford Bridge pitch to a pyro display fitting of the WSL’s return.
Moments until kick-off.
T-minus five minutes until the WSL season gets underway!
19:25 , Will CastleWe are just five minutes away from kick-off as the new WSL season gets underway!
The players are ready. Stamford Bridge is ready. We are so back.
Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates of all the action!
Alyssa Thompson presented to Stamford Bridge
19:24 , Will CastleShe isn’t in the squad tonight, but club-record Chelsea signing Alyssa Thompson has been presented to the Stamford Bridge faithful following her deadline day move!
Lucy Bronze brings out Euros trophy
19:19 , Will CastleWhile club rivalries reignite tonight, the Euro-winning Lionesses are given their flowers ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
Each player is given a warm individual ovation before Lucy Bronze and Lauren James - both injured for tonight’s contest - come out with the trophy in hand!
Who is new Man City manager Andree Jeglertz?
19:15 , Will CastleFormer Malmo defender Andree Jeglertz has replaced Gareth Taylor in the Man City dugout this summer and has an extensive CV.
He won the UEFA Women's Cup - later the Champions League - with Swedish side Umea in 2004 and led them to successive finals in 2007 and 2008.
After a spell in men's football with Djurgardens in 2009, Jeglertz spent six years in charge of Finland Women until 2016 before a brief return to Umea was followed by a two-year stint in charge of Linkopings.
He was appointed Denmark's head coach after the 2023 World Cup and led them to this summer's Euros after they finished second behind world champions Spain in qualifying.
Serena Williams involvement ‘a win for women’s football’, says Catarina Macario
19:05 , Will CastleChelsea forward Catarina Macario feels Serena Williams’ new affiliation with her side perfectly encapsulates the upward trajectory of women’s football.
In May, 23-time grand slam singles winner Williams’ husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, announced he had purchased a reported eight to 10 per cent stake, worth around £20million, in the six-time reigning Women’s Super League champions.
The couple flew over for the FA Cup final four days later at Wembley – where Macario scored in the 3-0 victory over Manchester United – on a weekend Ohanian predicted his new investment could become a billion-dollar operation.
Serena Williams involvement ‘a win for women’s football’ – Catarina Macario
Chelsea and Man City among clubs to trial alcohol in stands
18:55 , Will CastleAlcohol will be permitted in the stands at seven Women's Super League clubs from the 2025-26 season as part of a trial, marking a significant departure from the decades-long ban imposed on men's games to curb hooliganism.
For the upcoming season, fans attending matches at Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City, and Manchester United stadiums will be able to consume alcohol.
This follows a successful trial last year across 19 fixtures involving four second-tier WSL2 clubs and 51,000 supporters.
So, if you’re heading to Stamford Bridge this evening, don’t feel the need to down your pints in the concourse!
Can Man City cause an upset?
18:50 , Will Castle
London City Lionesses sign Grace Geyoro for world record fee
18:45 , Will CastleWhatever happens at Stamford Bridge, the story of the day won’t involve the reigning WSL champions.
That’s because league newcomers London City Lionesses have broken the women’s football transfer record by signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Grace Geyoro for £1.4m.
The newly-promoted side have embarked on a major spending spree, signing 16 players permanently this summer as they aim to consolidate their place in the top flight.
London City Lionesses sign Grace Geyoro for world record fee
The stage is set
18:41 , Will CastleStamford Bridge awaits the start of the new WSL season.
Sam Kerr is BACK!
18:40 , Will CastleAfter 20 months on the sidelines, Chelsea’s world-beating striker Sam Kerr has made her return to the squad.
The Australian suffered an ACL injury at the start of 2024, meaning she was absent for the entirety of their invincible season.
This Chelsea team was already strong enough...
Team news!
18:34 , Will CastleChelsea XI: Hampton; Carpenter, Bright, Bjorn, Charles; Walsh, Cuthbert; Kaptein, Hamano, Baltimore; Beever-Jones.
Man City XI: Yamashita; Rose, Prior, Greenwood; Casparij, Hasegawa, Lohmann, Murphy; Hemp, Miedema, Shaw.
Our first starting XI of the season! ✊#CFCW pic.twitter.com/EhUo7bcB4a
— (C)helsea FC Women 🏆🏆🏆 (@ChelseaFCW) September 5, 2025
Your first City line-up of the season! 🩵
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) September 5, 2025
XI | Yamashita, Rose, Greenwood (C), Shaw, Miedema, Hemp, Casparij, Lohmann, Hasegawa, Prior, Murphy
SUBS | Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Wienroither, Ouahabi, Blindkilde Brown, Beney, Thomas, Lewis
🤝 @etihad pic.twitter.com/bcH5e2aBUh
WSL and WSL2 to introduce minimum salaries from this season
18:27 , Flo CliffordThe top two tiers of professional women’s football will introduce minimum salaries for the first time from this season.
WSL Football, the company which operates professional women’s football in England, has introduced the regulations for the WSL and WSL2 as part of a sweeping series of reforms.
The minimum salary will vary based on different criteria including the age of players, what league they play in, and their level of experience, and figures have not been announced, but BBC Sport reports it will be a full-time wage.
The champs are here
18:19 , Will Castle
What happened last season?
18:15 , Will CastleIf you’re new to the WSL, here’s the 2024/25 domestic season in two words: Chelsea win.
The Blues swept aside every English club to win the WSL - going invincible to top the table for a SEVENTH successive season - as well as the Women's FA Cup and Women's League Cup.
As seven consecutive titles would indicate, Chelsea have been at the top for a while. Man City may hope to knock them off their perch, but they’ll need to vastly improve on last term, which saw them miss out on Champions League qualification and sack manager Gareth Taylor.
Beyond tonight’s two competitors, Arsenal found major success on the continent - winning the Women’s Champions League - while Crystal Palace went straight back down after coming up the previous year. London City Lionesses, who just broke the world transfer record, replace them in the division this term.
Odds
18:02 , Will CastleChelsea win 2/3
Draw 3/1
Man City win 15/4
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Predicted line-ups
17:50 , Will CastleChelsea XI: Hampton; Carpenter, Bright, Girma, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Nusken, Beever-Jones; Macario.
Man City XI: Keating; Rose, Prior, Greenwood; Casparij, Hasegawa, Lohmann, Beney; Kerolin, Miedema, Shaw.
Man City team news
17:37 , Will CastleMan City also go into the season with a handful of absences, with Rebecca Knaak ruled out with a meniscus tear. Bunny Shaw looks set to make her long-awaited comeback, though.
Jeglertz could also field the club’s new arrivals, among which Grace Clinton - who swapped Manchester United for City in a shock move.
Chelsea team news
17:25 , Will CastleChelsea sharpshooter Mayra Ramirez faces a lengthy layoff as she recuperates from hamstring surgery, while Lauren James and Lucy Bronze are still out.
All eyes, however, will be on Sam Kerr after Bompastor confirmed she will be included in her squad for the game after almost two years out.
The Blues could also showcase their new signings, with the likes of Mara Alber, Livia Peng and Ellie Carpenter coming through the door.
When is Chelsea vs Man City?
17:12 , Will CastleChelsea’s WSL clash against Man City kicks off at 7:30pm BST on Friday 5 September at Stamford Bridge in London.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting at 6:30pm BST.
Chelsea vs Man City LIVE
17:00 , Will CastleGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the WSL opener between Chelsea and Manchester City!
Chelsea begin their bid for a seventh successive title after Sonia Bompastor managed to guide the Blues to a coveted invincible crown in her debut season last term.
Man City, meanwhile, begin a new era under Andree Jeglertz after an underwhelming 2024/25, which saw them miss out on Champions League qualification.
Stay tuned for team news and minute-by-minute updates from the clash.
