Two controversial penalties set Chelsea on the way to beating Everton to remain on track for a fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
Toffees defender Clare Wheeler conceded both spot-kicks for challenges on Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Chelsea’s record buy Mayra Ramirez – but each decision appeared harsh upon further inspection.
Wheeler seemed to win the ball when tackling Rytting Kaneryd before standing on her foot in the follow-through, while the contact on Ramirez for the second spot-kick was minimal at most.
Guro Reiten coolly converted both penalties before Erin Cuthbert finished a wonderful team move to fire home a late third as Chelsea claimed a record-extending 22nd successive WSL home win.
- Relive Chelsea v Everton and the rest of Sunday’s WSL action
Emma Hayes’ side reclaimed top spot with victory, having been leapfrogged earlier on Sunday by Manchester City after their 2-0 win over Leicester.
Chelsea, three points clear at the summit, host Gareth Taylor’s City in their next league game on Friday, 16 February – a huge match in the WSL title race that will be shown live on BBC Two.
Defeat, meanwhile, leaves Everton five points clear of danger in 10th place while their manager Brian Sorensen was sent off late on for comments made to the referee.
Blues dominant but need a bit of help along way
Chelsea, WSL champions for the past four seasons and in seven of the last nine campaigns, were unsurprisingly superior throughout against their willing but overmatched visitors.
There was no arguing that they fully merited the victory, having outshot the Toffees – who failed to register a single attempt on target – by 16 efforts to three.
But Everton had justification to dispute both of the spot-kick calls that went against them, with Wheeler on the wrong side of two very contestable decisions.
Once Norway winger Reiten dispatched the first penalty just prior to the half-hour mark, Chelsea were always in command although Aurora Galli wasted a decent chance to equalise, skying over from Rikke Madsen’s cross.
That was as close as Everton came as the hosts completely controlled the second period, Rytting Kaneryd and Lauren James spurning good opportunities to double the lead.
The second goal eventually arrived, but again in contentious circumstances as Colombia striker Ramirez, making her first Chelsea start since her British record fee move, went down under scant pressure from Wheeler.
Reiten again tucked home from the spot and there could certainly be no complaints about Chelsea’s brilliant third goal, a classy passing move featuring lovely one-touch football finished off by Cuthbert.
By that point, Toffees boss Sorensen had already seen red and he will almost certainly be banned from the touchline when Everton welcome relegation rivals West Ham in a fortnight’s time.
The Merseysiders, who sank to a fourth successive league loss, have now lost each of their past nine meetings with Chelsea, with the Blues netting three goals or more in all of those victories.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
24Hampton12Lawrence7Carter39Björn21Charles22Cuthbert8Leupolz19Rytting Kaneryd10James11Reiten35Ramírez
- 24Hampton
- 12Lawrence
- 7Carter
- 39Björn
- 21Charles
- 22CuthbertSubstituted forCankovicat 89’minutes
- 8Leupolz
- 19Rytting KanerydSubstituted forKirbyat 68’minutes
- 10JamesBooked at 65minsSubstituted forNüskenat 78’minutes
- 11ReitenSubstituted forBeever-Jonesat 79’minutes
- 35RamírezSubstituted forFishelat 79’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 2Fishel
- 5Ingle
- 6Nüsken
- 14Kirby
- 15Périsset
- 26Buchanan
- 28Cankovic
- 33Beever-Jones
Everton Women
Formation 3-4-3
1Brosnan8Vanhaevermaet20Finnigan27Stenevik10Bennison7Wheeler21Kühl22Galli19Payne18Piemonte26Madsen
- 1BrosnanBooked at 26mins
- 8Vanhaevermaet
- 20Finnigan
- 27Stenevik
- 10Bennison
- 7WheelerBooked at 26minsSubstituted forOlesenat 79’minutes
- 21Kühl
- 22Galli
- 19PayneSubstituted forHopeat 79’minutes
- 18Piemonte
- 26MadsenSubstituted forBissellat 58’minutes
Substitutes
- 11Bissell
- 13Hart
- 15Dale
- 17Hope
- 25Snoeijs
- 30Wilding
- 47Olesen
Referee:Emily HeaslipAttendance:2,013
Match Stats
Home TeamChelsea WomenAway TeamEverton WomenPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome16Away3Shots on TargetHome6Away0CornersHome10Away4FoulsHome9Away5
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0.
- 90’+8′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Offside, Chelsea Women. Sjoeke Nüsken is caught offside.
- 89′
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jelena Cankovic replaces Erin Cuthbert.
- 88′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross.
- 87′
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Emma Bissell.
- 86′
Post update
Attempt missed. Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
- 86′
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Megan Finnigan.
- 83’goal
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mia Fishel.
- 82′
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Courtney Brosnan.
- 82′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner.
- 82′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Agnes Beever-Jones.
- 79′
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Lucy Hope replaces Heather Payne.
- 79′
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beever-Jones replaces Guro Reiten.
- 79′
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Mia Fishel replaces Mayra Ramírez.
- 78′
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Sjoeke Nüsken replaces Lauren James.
- 78′
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Karoline Olesen replaces Clare Wheeler.
- 77′
Post update
Offside, Chelsea Women. Fran Kirby is caught offside.
- 75′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Aurora Galli (Everton Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Elise Stenevik with a cross.
- 75′
Post update
Foul by Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women).
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