Chelsea’s Unbeaten Streak Ends as Everton Shocks with 1-0 Victory

Chelsea’s impressive 34-match unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League (WSL) concluded dramatically with a surprising 1-0 defeat to Everton on March 15, 2024. The Toffees had struggled prior to this match, having not won any of their eight previous league fixtures. Their last victory came on the opening day of the season against Liverpool. However, they turned their fortunes around with a historic win, thanks to a goal from Honoka Hayashi just 12 minutes into the game.

The loss marked Chelsea’s first in the WSL since May 2024 and was particularly significant as it was the first defeat under head coach Sonia Bompastor. The defeat also ended their remarkable run of scoring in 31 consecutive league matches.

From the outset, Chelsea appeared to dominate, with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan making a pivotal save against a low strike from Catarina Macario, deflecting the ball onto the post. Yet, against the run of play, Everton took the lead when Hayashi converted a well-placed ball from Toni Payne across the six-yard box.

Despite Chelsea’s continued pressure, Everton’s defence held firm. The Toffees adopted a disciplined approach, limiting Chelsea to an expected goals (xG) of just 0.49 in the first half. Several near misses ensued for Chelsea, including a corner that deflected off an Everton defender and hit the post.

As the match progressed, Chelsea’s frustration mounted. A shot from Alyssa Thompson went narrowly wide, and a combination of Brosnan and defender Martina Fernandez managed to clear another shot off the line. The tension escalated further when substitute Wieke Kaptein hit the crossbar with a header, followed by Sandy Baltimore striking a free-kick against the bar in the dying moments.

Manchester City Solidifies Lead

In contrast to Chelsea’s setback, Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the WSL by six points with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City. Jamaica international Bunny Shaw played a vital role, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes, with Brazilian substitute Kerolin adding a third in stoppage time. This win marked City’s best start to a WSL campaign, with nine wins in ten games.

Meanwhile, Manchester United climbed back into the top three after a 2-1 win against West Ham. A stunning strike from defender Dominique Janssen secured the victory following an equalizer from West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez.

Tottenham also made headlines, leveling with fourth-placed Arsenal after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. A last-minute goal from Olivia Holdt sealed the win, which came after Villa had taken the lead.

Brighton secured their fourth league win of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory against London City Lionesses, courtesy of an early goal from Kiko Seike.

As the season progresses, the competition in the WSL intensifies, with teams vying for crucial points as they head towards the latter stages of the campaign. Chelsea will need to regroup quickly to maintain their title aspirations after this unexpected setback against Everton.