Chelsea secure a 1-0 win against Aston Villa in the opening game of the 2024/2025 Season

Chelsea Women secured a hard thought 1-0 victory in the opening match of the WSL season at Kingsmeadow, following an incredible strike from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.  

Chelsea Women take on Aston Villa Women at home for Matchday One of the new Women’s Super League campaign. 

Both Chelsea and Aston Villa have New Head Coaches ahead of this matchup. 

Sonia Bompastor, manager of Chelsea Women and Robert de Pauw, manager of Aston Villa Women. 

Can Chelsea keep hold of their WSL title this season?  

Here is all you need to know about the first game of the 2024/25 season in the first match report of the season.  

STARTING XI:  

Chelsea: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Buchanan, Lawrence, Cuthbert, Nusken, Reiten, Baltimore, Kaneryd, Ramirez 

Aston Villa: D’Angelo, Maritz, Patten, Parker, Tomàs, Nobbs, Staniforth, Grant, Kearns, Dali, Daly 

KICK OFF: 

Chelsea was eager to get the game started as Guro Reiten takes an early shot, which is put wide. 

Aston Villa also tried taking the lead early on, however Aston Villa struggled to get through the strong Chelsea defence line.  

During the first 10 minutes, both sides had one corner advantage each.  

D’Angelo, Aston Villa Goalkeeper, was forced into some early saves as Chelsea’s dangerous corners came in.  

In the 37th minute, Rytting Kaneryd takes a shot from outside the box, which hits the the back of the net.  

This outstanding goal was assisted by Colombian Striker, Mayra Ramirez. 

The incredible winger opens the scoring against The Claret & Blue’s and is the first player to score a goal in the new 2024/25 WSL season. 

Despite Chelsea dominating in the first half of this matchup, there is no doubt that Aston Villa have had some amazing counter attacking moments.  

What did Aston Villa have to do to turn the game around from 1-0 down? 

Aston Villa makes the first substitution of the WSL season, Lucy Staniforth makes way for Kirsty Hanson.  

Kirsty Hanson will bring speed down the attacking line. 

Aston Villa will have to be quick with their movements and look for those forward, long passes and crosses.  

At the same time, the defensive line have to close the Chelsea forward players down and put pressure on the Chelsea players.  

What did Chelsea have to do to continue their run in the second half? 

So far, Chelsea had been dominant and dynamic on the pitch, with many shots towards goal.  

To continue their run to achieve their first home game win of the season, Chelsea will need to press towards Aston Villa and show their pace when attacking.  

This way, we should have expected to see more goals from Chelsea during this matchup. 

Second Half Kick Off: 

Chelsea made their first substitutions of Matchday One, as we see Maika Hamano coming on for Chelsea Summer Signing Sandy Baltimore.  

We also see Aggie Beever-Jones making her first appearance of the 2024/25 WSL campaign, coming on for Mayra Ramirez. 

Aston Villa make three more substitutions after Kirsty Hanson coming on. 

Aston Villa Summer Signing Katie Robinson came on for another Aston Villa Summer Signing, Chasity Grant.  

As well as Adriana Leon coming on for Kenza Dali. In the 85th minute, we saw Ebony Salmon come on for Lucy Parker. 

Another substitution is for Chelsea, Lauren James will play her first minutes under the New Head Coach, Sonia Bompastor.

Goal scorer Rytting Kaneryd makes way for Lauren James. In the 90th minute, Guro Reiten is replaced by Nathalie Björn. 

Full-Time Analysis: Chelsea 1 – 0 Aston Villa 

Despite Chelsea winning their first game of the season, Aston Villa had some amazing standout performances during this game, such as incredible attacking pieces.  

A standout player for Aston Villa was Lucy Parker.  

Lucy Parker showed great defensive skills when battling it out in duels against the Chelsea forwards.  

Parker put her body on the line in multiple occasions and showed incredible dynamic when defending for Aston Villa.  

On the other hand, a standout player for Chelsea was Hannah Hampton, Hampton made many outstanding saves and kept incredible leadership to make sure her defensive line didn’t let crosses come through.  

Hannah Hampton’s execution of the long passes down the centre to the likes of Rytting Kaneryd, Mayra Ramirez and Guro Reiten worked well with the dynamic of the front line. 

Apart from that, new club summer signings made an impressive impact to both Chelsea and Aston Villa’s formats.  

For example, Lucy Bronze settled in well with the Buchanan, Bright and Lawrence defensive duties.  

They pressed against the opposition and closed them down. After this, Lucy Bronze created counter attacking chances to secure Chelsea’s win. 

A player that settled in well with Aston Villa, was Sabrina D’Angelo, she made some early saves, however she was phenomenal when crosses came towards her and made sure she had shots covered from all aspects.  

Despite all of that, Chelsea V Aston Villa was both thrilling and exciting as both teams tried to take the first win of the WSL. 

Next week, Chelsea will face Crystal Palace away, this game will take place at Selhurst Park on Friday 27th of September at 19:30pm. 

While Aston Villa will take on Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Sunday 29th of September at 16:30pm. 

Featured Image Courtesy of Holly Mackay. No changes have been made to the image.