Chelsea reclaimed the top spot in the Women’s Super League after a hard-fought victory against West Ham. Aggie Beever-Jones and Erin Cuthbert found the net, propelling the Blues above Manchester City on goal difference with five games left in the season.
Facing a determined West Ham side, Chelsea had to dig deep for the win. Despite West Ham’s position near the bottom of the table, they put up a spirited fight, keeping Chelsea on their toes throughout the match.
The game started with a flurry of action as West Ham nearly scored within the first 20 seconds through Viviane Asseyi’s header. However, Chelsea quickly turned the tables, capitalizing on their first attack to take the lead. Lauren James set up Beever-Jones for a close-range finish after a well-executed cutback.
West Ham’s frustration grew when Honoka Hayashi thought she had equalized, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Replays later showed that Hayashi was onside, adding to West Ham’s sense of injustice.
In the end, Chelsea secured the victory with Cuthbert’s powerful volley late in the game, sealing the three points and reaffirming their title ambitions.
Chelsea’s winning streak continues, now extending to six consecutive victories across four different competitions, fueling speculation of a potential quadruple.
Despite fatigue creeping in from a demanding schedule, with this match marking the sixth of eight fixtures in a packed March, Chelsea’s resilience shone through against West Ham.
Although not hitting their usual stride, the reigning WSL champions displayed grit and determination against a West Ham side known for recent upsets against strong opponents like Manchester United and Arsenal.
West Ham, while taking positives from their performance, must convert promising displays into tangible results to alleviate relegation concerns, especially with Bristol City’s loss widening the gap at the bottom of the table.
Despite early scares for Chelsea, including Kirsty Smith’s missed opportunity and Riko Ueki’s shot hitting the bar, the Blues gradually asserted control. Mayra Ramirez came close to doubling the lead, but her effort struck the post before Erin Cuthbert’s late volley secured the win in style.
With a comfortable 3-0 lead over Ajax in the Champions League quarter-finals, manager Emma Hayes may opt to rotate the squad for the upcoming second leg, balancing the demands of a congested fixture list. Following the European tie, Chelsea’s focus shifts to the Women’s League Cup final against Arsenal and the Women’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United in the coming weeks.
