Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor was quick to remind her team not to get too caught up in their recent success, despite a crucial win that extended their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League.
With six minutes left in the game, Guro Reiten’s calm penalty secured all three points for the Blues in a match against their closest title rivals.
Bompastor Stays Focused on the Bigger Picture
Although Chelsea now hold a nine-point lead, Bompastor emphasized the importance of maintaining the right mindset.
Reflecting on the tight match, which saw both teams battling fiercely, she said: “It’s a really fine margin between Arsenal and us.
It could have gone either way, and we were lucky to have come out on top.”
Despite the win, she stressed that the team needs to stay grounded.
“We need to keep the right mentality. There’s a long way to go, and we haven’t won anything yet.”
Girma’s Arrival Adds Excitement and Depth
Before the game, Chelsea made a splash in the transfer market, announcing the signing of Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave.
The world-record signing, described by USA manager Emma Hayes as the “best defender I’ve ever seen,” has joined the club on a long-term deal.
The 24-year-old centre-back expressed excitement about joining a team with such a strong winning culture.
“The atmosphere here is incredible, and I wanted to be part of that,” Girma said at halftime.
The deal reportedly cost Chelsea £900,000, surpassing the previous record set for a women’s player in England.
A Tight Match with Missed Opportunities for Arsenal
The game itself saw Chelsea come out strong in the opening minutes, with Erin Cuthbert and Catarina Macario both testing Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Daphne van Domselaar.
However, Arsenal soon settled into the game, and despite a couple of chances, they couldn’t find the back of the net.
A costly mispass from Cuthbert nearly gave Arsenal the lead, but Alessia Russo’s shot went wide.
Later, Emily Fox had a chance but couldn’t muster the power or accuracy needed to score.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers acknowledged the missed opportunities, noting, “We created chances, but we weren’t clinical enough.
Against Chelsea, you can’t afford to let those slip.”
The Decisive Moment and a Late Red Card
The second half saw Arsenal take more control of possession but still struggle to make anything of it.
Lauren James, returning to the league after an extended absence, made an immediate impact by charging toward the Arsenal penalty box, where she was brought down by Kim Little.
The referee awarded Chelsea a penalty, and just moments later, Katie McCabe was shown a red card after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent.
With the crowd buzzing, Reiten stepped up to convert the penalty with ice-cold precision, sealing the win for Chelsea.
The late goal left Arsenal little time to respond, and Chelsea held on for the victory.
The win not only maintained Chelsea’s unbeaten run under Bompastor but also sent a strong message in their title charge.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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