Women’s football round-up: Chelsea’s flawless WSL record ended as Palace finish year bottom of the table
BY YANN TEAR
yann@slpmedia.co.uk
Sonia Bompastor’s hopes of seeing out 2024 with a perfect record in the Women’s Super League were scuppered by lowly Leicester City as Chelsea Women were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
It brought an end to a 100 per cent record after 13 successive victories in all competitions, which included wins against chief title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City.
They had 28 shots to the Foxes’ two and 70 per cent of the ball, but it still wasn’t enough.
“I’m frustrated because we have talent in the team, but we didn’t show that in the first half,” Chelsea’s head coach said.
“The players need to realise this is a competitive league and if you don’t show up from the start, you don’t get good results.
“We had to be able to beat this team today and if you have ambitions to finish at the top of the table, you cannot drop points like we did in this game.”
Missy Goodwin gave the hosts the lead against the run of play at Leicester’s King Power Stadium, and although Wieke Kaptein levelled it on 77 minutes, the off-colour Blues could not go on to claim the win.
They are still sitting pretty as they go into the winter break though. Their 28 points from 10 games gives them a six-point lead over Man City.
Crystal Palace ended their year with a 1-0 home defeat to fourth-placed Manchester United – a result which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the 12-team Super League on five points.
A mix-up between Palace keeper Shae Yanez and captain Aimee Everett allowed Grace Clinton to stroke home the winner for the visitors.
Palace return to action on January 19 at Arsenal, while Chelsea play West Ham away the same day.
In the Championship, London City Lionesses powered to a 3-1 victory over Southampton at Hayes Lane. Second-half strikes from captain Kosovari Asllani, Isobel Goodwin and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah effectively settled the outcome before an injury time reply.
South London rivals Charlton drew 0-0 at Birmingham City.
The Lionesses are third in the league, just a point behind Birmingham City and Bristol City.
Charlton are eighth in the 11-team division which has reached its halfway point.
London City travel to Bristol when the new year fixtures begin on January 19, while Charlton travel to fourth-placed Durham.
Meanwhile, in the London and South East Women’s Regional League, Ted Jones’ Millwall Lionesses backed up a 4-2 victory against Bognor Regis Town with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Sport London E Benfica to take them into the Christmas break.
Mia Lockett set up Victoria Lussambo for the opener before Florrie Winfield curled home a beauty to get her first for The Lionesses’ first-team. Alice Wood added a third in the second half.
Millwall Lionesses return to action on January 5 when they take on Herne Bay in the quarter-finals of the League Cup at St Paul’s Sports Ground.
AFC Wimbledon Women beat Gwalia United 1-0 at Raynes Park Vale.
Next up after the festive break are Cheltenham Town Ladies at home on January 5.
PICTURES: ALAMY
