Chelsea add another game to their unbeaten run after beating Tottenham 4-0 on Sunday.
Although it was Spurs that started the game best, they would go on to suffer a huge defeat at the end of the 90. The Blues turned the whole game around after a positive start from Spurs. Within 11 minutes, Chelsea had already netted three goals.
How the teams lined up
Chelsea
Berger; Mjelde, (Blundell 46′) Bright, (Ingle 77′) Eriksson, Andersson, Leupolz, Ji, Reiten, Harder (Spence 76′) , Kirby, (Fleming 61′) Kerr (England 61′)
Spurs
Mikalsen; Neville, Zadorsky, Harrop, Davison, (Quinn 78′) Percival, Addison, Graham,(Green 46′) Naz,(Ayane 57′) Kennedy, McManus
Story of the game
Although the guests’ starting XI on paper looked very defensive, they started by putting a lot of pressure on the hosts. During the first 15 minutes, Chelsea’s defence looked disoriented. It wasn’t until Melanie Leupolz fired off a real screamer from far outside the box that the tables turned.
Two minutes later, Fran Kirby found Pernille Harder with a nice back pass, whose shot was slightly deflected by Abbie McManus before it hit the back of the net.
The Dane continued her effortless running and 38 minutes in, Harder’s delicious cross from the left wing found Sam Kerr. The Aussie seemed to have been completely forgotten by Tottenham’s defenders and she headed in the third.
Leupolz then added another one to the scoreboard when she scored the fourth from a penalty, caused by a handball from Kerys Harrop 68 minutes in.
What the statistics said
Chelsea – Spurs
Shots (OT): 22 (6) – 8 (2)
Possession %: 67 – 33
Duels won %: 55 – 45
Aerial duels won %: 67 – 33
Total passes: 677 – 319
Passing accuracy %: 86 – 70
Tackles won %: 80 – 77
Fouls: 7 – 7
Source: @NWSLAnalitica on Twitter
Takeaways
Tottenham’s plan to start the game was definitely to make the Chelsea defence look unorganised in the beginning. Ria Percival forced a real stretch from Berger in the home team’s goal when she was given time to aim from inside the box.
The Chelsea ‘keeper pulled off a big save using her fingertips for the ball to hit the woodwork instead of the back of the net.
Kirby, Kerr and Harder’s abilities to switch positions up front is really giving their opponents a headache. They fluidly change between being a forward, central midfielder and a winger, backing each other up where needed.
What’s ahead
Chelsea’s next game is the Continental Cup semi-final on February 3 before their next league game vs Brighton on Sunday. There’s a big week ahead for the Blues.
Tottenham take on Aston Villa away in the next round of the league. Spurs had won three games straight before playing Chelsea and will surely be looking to get back onto a winning streak again.
