Five things we learned as Chelsea open the WSL season with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa | OneFootball

Champions Chelsea started the defence of their WSL title with an opening night win over Aston Villa in front of a sold out crowd at Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea looked dominant for the most part, but struggled to find the net until a 36th-minute goal from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

A defiant Aston Villa did not go down without a fight, creating chances until the end. Stoppage time drama saw Hannah Hampton make two brilliant saves in the final moments of the match, after headers from Rachel Daly and Villa’s keeper Sabrina D’Angelo nearly found the net.

Villa will take plenty of positives from their opening match and a narrow one goal defeat against the team to beat this season.

Champions for a reason

Backed by a packed Kingsmeadow crowd, this was a strong start to the season by Chelsea – not that they had everything their own away.

The first ten minutes were laden with chances for the home side, but Villa soon found their way into the game and started to prevent Chelsea from creating much of note.

A wonder strike from Swedish Kaneryd broke the deadlock, but Villa kept the pressure on for the rest of the match, looking lively in the second half.

Despite not being at their best, the Blues once again showed how to get over the line with a narrow victory, against a well-drilled Villa side.

A striking start

Kaneryd’s 36th minute goal was the opener for the WSL season, and what a goal it was.

As Chelsea were struggling to break down Villa, Kaneryd cut inside on the edge of the box, and her curling left-footed strike found the back of the net – what a way to start the season!

Strong debuts

A much anticipated return to the WSL for Lucy Bronze saw her earn her Chelsea debut at Kingsmeadow.

She received the biggest cheer of the night when the team was announced and her performance was as solid as ever in that right back position.

Chelsea’s other debutant was Sandy Baltimore, signed from PSG, who showed glimpses of what she can add to Chelsea’s attack this season. She earned a huge ovation when she was subbed in the 66th minute.

Meanwhile for Villa, Missy Bo Kearns, who moved to the Midlands from Liverpool, nearly marked her debut with a goal.

A ball into the box found Daly who dragged the ball back, but Kearns could not get the shot on target in a moment that ended with her holding her head in dismay. She knew this would be one of very few chances lagainst Chelsea.

Villa’s new Dutch signing Chasity Grant looked lively down the right wing for the away side, and so much of Villa’s good play found its way through her.

It looks like there will be much more to come from the newbies this season.

Valiant Villa

After dropping down the table last season with a seventh-placed finish, Robert de Pauw’s new-look Aston Villa look like a force to be reckoned with.

Their best-ever finish was two seasons ago, when they finished fifth, and some early signs tonight showed they might be hoping to fare better than that this year.

They matched Chelsea for possession and chances and some added time brilliance from Hampton saw her save two chances and the three points for Chelsea.

Calm in defence and smart in attack, Villa will be battling hard for top four under de Pauw this season.

A touching tribute

The eighth minute of the match saw an image of former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack shown on the screen.

It was a year ago today that she sadly passed away, and in the minute of her former shirt number, the crowd applauded – a lovely moment to remember Maddy.