Everton 0-3 Chelsea: Blues win in first match since Emma Hayes announced she will leave in the summer
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Chelsea have won 12 of their past 13 league matches against Everton
Chelsea cruised past Everton to extend their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League table to four points.
Jessie Fleming put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute with her first goal of the season, latching on to Clare Wheeler’s poor clearance and volleying the ball into the bottom corner.
Sam Kerr doubled her side’s advantage midway through the second half by poking Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s low cross past Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
And the win was rounded off in the 90th minute when substitute Aggie Beever-Jones curled a superb strike into the top corner.
Business as usual despite Hayes announcement
Hours after Chelsea’s last win, a 6-0 victory over Aston Villa last week, the club announced manager Emma Hayes will be leaving the Blues at the end of the season.
The 47-year-old has been in charge of the Chelsea since 2012 and has guided the club to six WSL titles, including four in a row, as well as five FA Cups and two League Cups.
Despite so much noise surrounding the Chelsea camp, Hayes’ team played with the same ruthlessness they showed against Villa, demonstrating a clinical edge that Everton were lacking.
They also went close through a Kerr header and an Erin Cuthbert shot from range before the break. And after the restart, they continued their dominance, deservedly adding two more goals.
The result means the Blues remain unbeaten in the WSL this season and on track for an unprecedented fifth consecutive title.
Everton’s poor record against Chelsea continues
Everton’s disappointing start to the season goes on. The Toffees have lost four of their opening six league fixtures.
The hosts have not beaten Chelsea since a 3-2 win in 2013, but they did create a handful of good chances in the first period.
Heather Payne, Martina Piemonte and Justine Vanhaevermaet all had shots which tested keeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
And Berger did brilliantly to keep out Sara Holmgaard in the 44th minute with a diving save. Vanhaevermaet then tapped home the rebound but Everton’s equaliser was ruled out for offside.
Despite a strong opening period Brian Sorensen’s side faded in the second half and were limited to sparse attacks on the break as Chelsea ultimately cantered to their win.
Line-upsEverton Women
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Brosnan
28Holmgaard20Finnigan2Veje
7Wheeler22Galli8Vanhaevermaet23Holmgaard
19Payne
14Sørensen18Piemonte
Substitutes
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
30Berger
15Périsset4Bright7Carter21Charles
22Cuthbert
19Rytting Kaneryd6Nüsken28Cankovic17Fleming
20Kerr
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Everton Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.
Second Half ends, Everton Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.
Goal! Everton Women 0, Chelsea Women 3. Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
Attempt missed. Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fran Kirby with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Emma Bissell (Everton Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hanna Bennison.
Substitution, Everton Women. Karoline Olesen replaces Nicoline Sørensen.
Offside, Chelsea Women. Ève Périsset tries a through ball, but Agnes Beever-Jones is caught offside.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beever-Jones replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Mia Fishel replaces Sam Kerr.
Substitution, Everton Women. Hanna Bennison replaces Karen Holmgaard.
Substitution, Everton Women. Katja Snoeijs replaces Martina Piemonte.
Attempt missed. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
Foul by Ève Périsset (Chelsea Women).
Nicoline Sørensen (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Sophie Ingle replaces Jelena Cankovic.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Lauren James replaces Jessie Fleming.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Fran Kirby replaces Sjoeke Nüsken.
Goal! Everton Women 0, Chelsea Women 2. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a cross.
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Clare Wheeler.
Jess Carter (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.