Sjoeke Nusken’s excellent first-time finish kept Chelsea’s slim Women’s Super League title hopes alive as they edged out Aston Villa 4-3.
The Blues, who knew anything but a win at Kingsmeadow would see their title defence come to an end, just about got the job done in a topsy-turvy encounter. Chelsea fell behind inside 100 seconds, with Chasity Grant flicking in from close range.
Yet three goals in the space of seven minutes saw Chelsea flip the script. Sam Kerr got them on level terms before Lauren James took centre stage. First, James swung in a dangerous cross from which Naomi Girma turned home, before the England star arrowed a brilliant strike into the bottom-right corner. Yet a quickfire double from Kirsty Hanson saw Villa restore parity heading into half-time.
Chelsea took control after the break, though Kerr and Alyssa Thompson wasted decent openings before Nusken had the decisive say in the 82nd minute, curling beyond Villa’s substitute goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, who had replaced the injured Ellie Roebuck.
Sonia Bompastor’s team, who survived a late scare when Anna Patten failed to connect from six yards out, are into second place, nine points behind leaders Manchester City with just three games left to play. Elsewhere, West Ham drew 1-1 with London City Lionesses. This was the first game in WSL history in which both teams scored three goals in the first half. All of Villa’s goals, meanwhile, were teed up by Lynn Wilms, who became the first player to record three assists in a WSL match against Chelsea.
Kerr was one of Chelsea’s standout performers, with a goal and an assist. The Australian has now scored eight goals in as many WSL appearances against Villa. James turned in another star display, as she created a game-leading six chances and had 96 touches, more than any other player.