Katie Stengel scored two penalties on her Girls’s Tremendous League debut as defending champions Chelsea had been surprised by newly promoted Liverpool.
Chelsea took the lead when Fran Kirby transformed from the penalty spot after Gilly Flaherty collided with Guro Reiten. Sam Kerr noticed an effort dominated offside whereas Liverpool capitalised on their second-half probabilities to finish the Blues’ 13-game unbeaten streak whereas celebrating their return to the highest flight in entrance of a document 3,006 followers at Prenton Park.
Stengel joked she was simply attempting to keep away from embarrassing herself on her Girls’s Tremendous League debut. “I informed myself don’t miss, please don’t miss, all of those individuals right here will make enjoyable of me if I miss,” the American informed Sky Sports activities. “I used to be like, I’ve to alter it up, and I acquired fortunate I suppose.”
The striker mentioned the consequence was all the way down to her group’s dedication, and an invigorating half-time pep discuss from the pinnacle coach, Matt Beard. “He simply reiterated now we have to consider in ourselves,” she added. “[He said:]‘We are able to win this sport and it’s simply one other group on the market, one other 11 gamers, and we ready all pre-season so why not consider in ourselves?’”
Chelsea’s head coach, Emma Hayes, was pissed off however insisted she was not nervous for her aspect. “It’s not like in open play they’ve had a number of pictures, they’ve simply maximised the conditions, and for us going ahead I don’t suppose we might hit a barn door at this time,” she mentioned. “I say it on a regular basis, what’s to be nervous about dropping a soccer match. I’m not emotional about it. I believe now we have to mirror, watch it again and subsequent week’s a brand new week.”
The previous Chelsea defender Flaherty acquired her new aspect off to an unlucky begin, mistiming her clearance and as a substitute making contact with Reiten to concede a penalty inside the primary minute. Kirby stepped as much as the spot and despatched Rachael Legal guidelines the unsuitable manner inside three minutes, her twenty ninth purpose in her final 31 begins for the membership.
Emma Koivisto had an opportunity to degree quickly after when the Chelsea keeper Zecira Musovic failed to carry on to a Ceri Holland effort and the Finnish defender pounced on the rebound however despatched her effort over the bar.
The defending champions dominated all through the opening exchanges with Lauren James, who earned her first England cap this month, wanting particularly shiny down the correct wing.
They seemed to double their benefit on the 20-minute mark when Kirby despatched an extended ball excessive to Kerr, who simply fired previous Legal guidelines from 18 yards however her volleyed effort was instantly dominated offside.
Beard’s aspect had been dealt a blow when Leanne Kiernan was pressured off, supported by two employees, after she was introduced down by Chelsea debutant Kadeisha Buchanan. However Liverpool acquired the breakthrough they had been in search of when Flaherty’s flick-on from a throw-in caught Millie Brilliant’s arm and was referred to as for handball, and Stengel coolly scored her first WSL purpose.
5 minutes from time, Stengel broke down the correct and into the world, pursued by Buchanan who introduced her down with a sliding deal with to arrange Stengel for her game-winning second penalty.
