Match ends, Chelsea Women 3, Aston Villa Women 0.
Chelsea bounced back from successive cup exits to return to the top of the Women's Super League by beating Aston Villa.
Emma Hayes' side were handed a gift after just four minutes as Villa keeper Anna Leat dived to save a Sjoeke Nusken shot with her hands outside the penalty area and was shown a red card.
A player down, Villa cracked under Chelsea's pressure and Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring when she curled past replacement goalkeeper Sophia Poor after a perfectly placed Niamh Charles cross.
There was no respite for 17-year-old debutant Poor and Chelsea got their second when Maika Hamano turned home after Catarina Macario flicked an Ashley Lawrence cross into her path.
Chelsea, who were beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and lost to Arsenal in the League Cup final on 31 March, were dominant throughout as they enjoyed the majority of possession and were patient going forward.
The result never seemed in doubt and they extended their advantage when Kadeisha Buchanan headed home a Macario delivery in the second half.
Victory in their game in hand sent Chelsea back above Manchester City on goal difference, while Aston Villa remain in seventh place.
- Chelsea v Aston Villa as it happened, plus reaction and analysis
- 'Amazing' to return to Chelsea training - captain Millie Bright
Chelsea back on top with routine win
Chelsea boss Hayes had said before Wednesday's fixture that her players needed to "show up" but Villa's early sending off meant it was never going to be too troublesome a task.
They enjoyed freedom in possession as Villa were forced to sit deep, striker Rachel Daly having to drop into defence.
Villa couldn't cope, though, and they were torn apart on the wings - particularly on the right, where Charles regularly found a way behind their backline.
Macario showcased her dangers from set-pieces on her first start and both Charles and Nusken nearly converted from them in the first half.
Hayes made seven changes with an eye on Saturday's Women's Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona, and there was no Lauren James in the squad, but the rotation did not hold Chelsea back - rather, they flourished.
While Villa had not played a game since 30 March, they had no option to rotate anyway, and were only able to name six substitutes.
First-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is out with an injury and Leat's three-match suspension will make selecting a squad even more difficult for Villa.
Chelsea's attention must turn quickly to the Champions League as they continue their quest to win the competition for the first time in Hayes' final season as manager, but they go into two weekends of European action knowing they have the advantage at the top.
They are level on points with Manchester City, but have a goal difference that is two goals better - which could prove crucial with just four games remaining in the race for the title.
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 24Hampton
- 12LawrenceBooked at 77mins
- 7CarterSubstituted forCuthbertat 69'minutes
- 26Buchanan
- 21CharlesSubstituted forReitenat 56'minutes
- 6Nüsken
- 5IngleBooked at 61mins
- 14Kirby
- 33Beever-JonesSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 82'minutes
- 9MacárioSubstituted forRamírezat 69'minutes
- 23Hamano
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 8Leupolz
- 11Reiten
- 15Périsset
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 22Cuthbert
- 35Ramírez
Aston Villa Women
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 21LeatBooked at 4mins
- 4Patten
- 6CorsieBooked at 8mins
- 26Maritz
- 2MaylingSubstituted forLehmannat 81'minutes
- 8Nobbs
- 25Taylor
- 9DalyBooked at 45mins
- 10DaliSubstituted forHansonat 69'minutes
- 22MagillSubstituted forMullettat 82'minutes
- 17SalmonSubstituted forPoorat 5'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Lehmann
- 11Gregory
- 13Poor
- 18Mullett
- 20Hanson
- 23Leon
- Referee:
- Melissa Burgin
- Attendance:
- 1,801
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home13
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 3, Aston Villa Women 0.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Noëlle Maritz.
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Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
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Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.
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Attempt missed. Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jordan Nobbs.
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Attempt blocked. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
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Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
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Attempt missed. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Georgia Mullett following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women).
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Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Take a knock, get back, up again, don't look like you've been peppered with an uzi, sprawling about in agony
T'was a breath of fresh air
Unfortunately the women's game lost its USP on that front as money trickled in
Pantomine villain, PL had Suarez who needs to feed,lioness who needs to stud
Big Budget Chelsea women's beat another club in the "WSL" that are given a fraction of the money they get from their Parent Club.
This division is so disproportionate it beggars belief.
It might have been better for Villa women if Leat knew the golden rule of goalkeeping.
They will be bounced again on Saturday against Barcelona.