Key events
87 min The way Chelsea have controlled things since going in front has been very impressive. If we’re picking holes, I still wonder about that back three, which will be fine in most games but perhaps trip them up in the biggest ones, and they may also want to find a midfield combination that allows them greater control. But they reek of goals, and have so many different ways of finding them – as do Arsenal, in fairness.
86 min Two more changes for Chelsea, Perisset and Charles on for Reiten and Mjelde.
86 min James is just so confident and composed in possession. It doesn’t sound much, but she just picked up possession near halfway, turned towards her own goal and effortlessly flicked a pass to a teammate in space.
84 min Another City change, Lodasada replacing Aleixandri and Blakstad on for Shaw. That’s really harsh on Shaw, who’s had neither service nor support to speak of since half-time, though we saw in the first 45 that she was capable of knocking about Chelsea’s entire back three, on her own.
83 min Increasingly, I’m thinking this title will be decided by the head-to-heads – or should that be heads-to-head – between Chelsea and Arsenal. I guess there are other sides good enough to take points off them, as we saw last weekend, but both are just so strong it seems unlikely they’ll drop points often.
82 min …but this time, Berger is allowed to collect unmolested. I’ve not a clue why City allowed that.
81 min Raso gets the ball down the right, but Eriksson is in her phizog right away, blocking the cross behind. City were dangerous from corners in the first half…
79 min Now City make a change, withdrawing Hemp and replacing her with Raso. That’ll sort it.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Man City (Mjelde pen 78)
No messing here! Mjelde spanks a sidefooter into the left side-netting, seven-eights of the way up, and this is over.
77 min Chelsea are looking for a second, spreading left, and when the ball comes in, Cuthbert has a hit, then Ingle does and the ball loops over the bar … but the ref gives a penalty because it hit Castellanos’ hand, in an unnatural position near her face!
75 min Compare them with James, a veritable hive of activity … and here she is now, easing onto the gas and away from Ouahabi, making the box … and smacking a low shot that Roebuck beats away. She might’ve done better there – the finish was imprecise – but the run showed how far ahead she is of the defenders forced to mark her.
75 min I should say, I know it’s facile to say make some subs, but that’s what they’re there for.
74 min I just don’t understand why Taylor is letting this slide. His team have played with so little urgency since going behind and he’s done nothing to inject some.
72 min City are just letting this match slide now, and when Kirby picks up the ball in midfield, she’s allowed to burrow forward with no one in her face. So she opens her body to try a curler, sending it a yard or two over the bar.
71 min Reiten pulls left and thrashes crossfield for James, who nips inside and leathers a shot that whistles a yard past the far post. She is going to be a superstar.
69 min I wonder if City will try Mary Fowler in the next bit. They’re not really threatening, so need to do something, and they’ve got someone that good on the bench.
67 min On James, the similarity between her game and her brother’s is absolutely beautiful to see. They’ve both got that glorious combination of physical, skilful and cerebral, and the way they use their body to protect the ball while performing their footwork speaks of much time spent kicking about together.
66 min More excellent from James, who darts a decent ball into Kirby, showing inside the box. But she can’t direct her shot on target, sending it wide of the near post, and City will build again
66 min Eriksson charges down the wing and slings over a decent cross, but there’s no one to meet it so Roebuck collects easily enough.
65 min Change for Chelsea, Ingle replacing Fleming.
64 min Two quick passes in midfield look to open things up for City, but then Castellanos sends one behind Hemp and the attack breaks down.
63 min Eeesh, another collision between Shaw and Buchanan, bodies mincing under a high all … and again, it’s Shaw left standing with Buchanan having a little sit-down.
62 min Yup, City need to change something. They’re losing the midfield battle now and though they might still score because they’ve some good players, nothing they’re doing suggests that to be likely.
61 min Cuthbert looks for Kerr at the near post, but Ouahabi heads clear.
61 min Chelsea do, though, win a corner – their first of the match.
60 min Bright drills a fine pass out to Kerr, who’s not quite with it today and can’t find Kirby with her pass.
58 min Chelsea have had a lot more midfield control this half, and have had 62% possession so far this half.
56 min I wonder, though, if City might break from their implacable 4-3-3 and get another body up alongside Shaw, with whim Chelsea are dealing much better so far this half. Give her a partner, though, and things might get different, quickly.
54 min City are still a threat, but Chelsea just have better players. I’d not be surprised if we saw an equaliser, but my guess is that a clincher is more likely.
52 min Lauren James is the best player on the this pitch, and when she spins Ouahabi, the defender can only yank her back. She’s booked, and will be dreading the next time she’s isolated.
51 min The corner goes flat and hard to the near post, where Aleixandri lurks – this looks like a plan. But rather than go with her left and a sweep, she tries with her right, and a flick, sending the ball wide.
50 min Immediately, City counter, Kasparaji nashing down the line and finding Hemp, who teases a nice ball into Shaw. She controls beautfiully on her chest too, but as she spins, Bright, behind whom she was in, does brilliantly to turn and get back, lunging to concede a corner.
50 min Chelsea sweep forward, Fleming to Reiten … who slips.
49 min Chelsea knock it about at the back, trying to draw City onto them, but eventually have to go long.
47 min Eriksson clips a ball across the face … of her own box, but Berger shows a calm head and lovely feet to feint, selling Hemp a dummy, before getting the ball away.
46 min I mentioned earlier that Arsenal only lost once in the league last season; well, Chelsea lost twice, which is to say that City will have a lot of work to do if they can’t avoid defeat here.
46 min We go again!
Half-time reading: Something I wrote about Erik ten Hag, management, and charisma.
Half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Man City
In comms, they don’t think the score reflects the play, but I’m not so sure. City had a good 15 minutes, but Chelsea have missed two huge chances and the goal was beautifully constructed, so.
45+3 min I guess Hayes will want to give her formation time to settle, but anything that has James chasing the opposing full-back has one colossal weakness inherent within it.
46+1 min Suzy called it.
46 min There’ll be four added minutes.
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