5 talking points as Chelsea survive late Spurs surge to kick-off title defence
Chelsea Women began their title defence with a first opening day win since 2019 as they defeated Tottenham Women 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.
A debut goal for new signing Mia Fishel opened the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark. The USWNT international, who was called into the starting XI in place of the recovering Sam Kerr, headed in a cross from Niamh Charles to sap some life into otherwise listless performance from the home side.
James doubled the host's lead shortly after the interval, volleying in another cross from Charles after the ball had seemingly gone over the line for a Chelsea goal. Spurs, under the new management of Robert Vilahamn, looked dangerous on the counter through Drew Spence and Martha Thomas, and after Chelsea keeper Zećira Musovic mishandled a rudimentary save 10 minutes from time, the Scottish striker pounced happily to set up a nervy ending.
Here are the talking points...
1. Chelsea start title defence on right foot
Is there a more perfect stage for an upset on home soil than the opening day? That’s a question Chelsea can gleefully palm off to their London rivals Arsenal, who were the latest heavyweights to fall afoul to Matt Beard’s opening day specialists.
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At Stamford Bridge, it was a break from the last two season's tradition in which Chelsea begin their campaign with defeat. Hayes' Blues haven’t won their opening league game since 2019 (a 1-0 win over Spurs, with Beth England the goalscorer).
Whether this break in tradition hints towards a break in Chelsea's sustained dominance depends on one's capacity for positive thinking. A late wobble showed a vulnerability for complacency, while a laborious start from Chelsea left a crowd with little to cheer for.
Reigning champions Chelsea are off to a winning start (Getty Images)Nevertheless, a debut goal from Fishel promised to inject the home side with some semblance of a pulse. And so it was, with a more energetic start to the second half seeing Charles once again supplied the goods with her cross finding James' late run to double the Blues' advantage six minutes after the restart.
The final proceedings promised to be more straightforward, the match moulded to the discernible shapes of Chelsea shirts until an unprovoked goalkeeping error from Musovic made way for a more frantic ending, albeit dominated mostly by the hosts.
Still, last season's Chelsea narrative revolved around their ostensible grinding start. The narrative ended with Chelsea lifting a fourth successive title. A win is a win, and Chelsea have, importantly, begun their season with one.
2. New manager, new Spurs?
After escaping the gloomy grip of relegation in the penultimate match last season, Spur's then-interim manager Vicky Jepson drew a firm line under an unforeseen turbulent season.
Calling in Vilahamn - a manager with European pedigree and deep faith in a playing philosophy - to the helm was a means of reiterating the rogue nature of last season.
A first date away to perennial behemoths Chelsea was never going to be a kind place to forget last season's woes, but even in the harsh din of Stamford Bridge, Spurs looked more composed in possession than last season, boldly playing out from the back and switching play as the early signs of Vilahamn's style manifested.
The space and time afforded Spurs in the first half certainly helped, but a failure to execute consistently in the final third remains a lingering theme from last season.
As Chelsea slotted into a higher gear, Spurs were forced into a second-half of deep defending. Still, the positive signs of growth are difficult to ignore. For now, Robbie Williams won't be penning an ode to this new-look side, but we won't discount the possibility just yet.
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3. Fishel stars on debut in place of Kerr
Fishel scores on her debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge (Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)New signing Fishel spoke in the summer about her expected role in a Chelsea side ravenously chasing a fifth league title on the bounce. She used the word ‘super-sub’, proudly assuming the role as Kerr’s understudy.
The USWNT international, who made her senior debut for the former world champions a week earlier, likely didn’t expect to be taking on that responsibility so soon, but with Kerr still recovering from her calf injury incurred at the Women's World Cup, the 22-year-old found herself making her full debut in front of a raucous Stamford Bridge.
The unknowns surrounding Fishel and her abilities were mooted heavily pre-match, but early frets were dashed on the half-hour mark as Fishel put a drowsy-looking Chelsea into the ascendency, powering a downward header past Spencer with her first real sniff at goal.
Fishel continued to look dangerous, combining especially well with James and Reiten to give the Spurs defence plenty of problems throughout the second half.
4. No Beth England, slight problem
Martha Thomas got on the scoresheet in Beth England's absence (Joe Toth/Tottenham Hotspur FC/REX/Shutterstock)Drew Spence, Celin Bizet and Martha Thomas were entrusted to supply the goals in England's absence. Big shoes, given the double-digit glut the Lioness hauled last season.
But where many previews predicted an England-less Spurs would languish in the final third, Vilahamn's side looked bright and dangerous in front of goal, Thomas particularly stirring trouble with her constant runs and dynamic movement off the ball as Spence dropped deep to instigate attack.
The chances were there, but Spurs' unease to commit bodies forward coupled with an indecisiveness in the final third (not to mention the brick wall that is Chelsea keeper Zecira Musovic) threatened to see Spurs depart Stamford Bridge without a goal.
Nevertheless, Thomas remained alert and duly exploited a goalkeeping error from Chelsea to make for a frantic finale.
5. James' goal hides issue
A breakout summer tainted by a moment of petulance is the narrative James was bidding to evolve with the start of the WSL season. Tipped for a slew of season accolades, the 21-year-old showed precisely why.
The forward forced Spurs keeper Spencer into a diving save in the opening five minutes, before lashing a strike towards the top right corner that just lifted over the bar and dragging another shot wide.
A fourth chance arrived shortly after the interval, the Lioness' curled effort rattling the underside of the bar. A fifth time proved the charm as James, blistering into the box, cushioned a close-range volley beyond Spencer.
The goal was deserved not only for James but for Chelsea, who seconds earlier were seemingly denied a goal despite the ball clearly rolling over the Spurs' goal-line before being cleared by Ashley Neville.
Neither VAR nor goal-line technology are used in the top-flight of the women's game currently, a source of ongoing ire for Hayes.
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