Sonia Bompastor had hoped for greater efficiency from her team following their 1-0 win against Aston Villa on the opening day of the Women’s Super League season; at Crystal Palace, she witnessed a 7-0 rout that left no room for late-game anxiety. “In a high-stakes match, failing to secure the second goal only bolsters the opposition’s confidence,” Bompastor noted after the Villa victory, where Sabrina D’Angelo tested Hannah Hampton in the closing stages. It wasn’t until late in the first half that Chelsea found the breakthrough against the newly promoted Palace, but the second goal swiftly followed, with Lucy Bronze scoring her maiden Chelsea goal to quash any Palace optimism. Lauren James, Guro Reiten, Nathalie Björn, and Catarina Macario then added to the tally, ensuring a comprehensive victory.
Selhurst Park’s WSL debut saw an impressive turnout of 5,003 fans, creating an energetic atmosphere for the title holders’ visit. Following their 4-0 loss to Tottenham, Palace’s Laura Kaminski made two enforced changes, with Brooke Aspin and Lexi Potter ineligible to face their parent club, and the former serving a suspension. In their place, summer signings Lily Woodham and Ann My Cato made their first starts. Meanwhile, Aggie Beever-Jones, James, and Björn returned to Chelsea’s starting lineup. Bompastor had commended Kaminski ahead of the match, stating, “I watched the game against Tottenham. The result was harsh, but it didn’t reflect the performance.”
Palace showed promise against Tottenham but had much to rectify. The first half against Chelsea was notably improved; they were focused and well-organized, employing a back five to absorb pressure while being tenacious in possession. However, slower thinking and physical shortcomings inherent in newly promoted teams were evident. Indiah-Paige Riley nearly gave Palace an early lead, capitalizing on a Hampton error and forcing a crucial save.
The champions struck in the 38th minute with a decisive move. Fliss Gibbons missed a chance at one end, and Chelsea capitalized, with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd setting up Beever-Jones for the opener. Palace nearly equalized just before halftime, but Annabel Blanchard’s effort drifted wide. Opportunities against Chelsea are scarce and must be seized; instead, Chelsea extended their lead, ensuring a less tense second half.
The second goal arrived three minutes into the restart when Palace failed to clear Ashley Lawrence’s cross, allowing Bronze to score. With Palace’s spirit broken and legs weary, Chelsea quickly added a third through Mayra Ramírez’s assist to James. The fourth goal mirrored the first, coming shortly after a Palace near-miss, with Reiten capitalizing on a Kaptein flick. Björn headed in a corner for the fifth, Reiten scored her second for the sixth, and Macario sealed the seventh late on.
Chelsea’s dominance was clear, far more so than the first half suggested. The gap between the WSL and Championship is significant, with the mental and physical demands of the top level requiring time to adapt to. Promoted teams like Palace have limited time to adjust. While results against the top three won’t define their season, there’s much work ahead for Palace.
