Chelsea won 3-0 against Everton, ignoring the speculation surrounding Emma Hayes’ departure from the club. They now lead the Women’s Super League.
Sam Kerr’s goal and the former Everton Loanee Aggie beever-Jones followed Jessie Fleming in scoring, sealing victory against a home team that had caused them plenty of problems during the first half.
Hayes, the London club’s manager for 12 years and counting, announced last weekend that he will be stepping down from his position at the end the of this season.
They were sometimes guilty of being sloppy in passing the ball out the back during the first 45 minutes. However, their professionalism and quality was sufficient to complete the task.
Everton had its first chance to score after 75 seconds. The team made seven changes from the one that lost 7-0 against Manchester United on Thursday in the League Cup.
Heather Payne was sent in from right to goal by Martina Piemonte, but Ann-Katrin Berger blocked her shot.
Chelsea regained their composure in the 14th-minute and went ahead.
Kerr, the Australia striker who was rested after last week’s 6-1 win over Aston Villa, leapt to catch Sjoeke’s chipped angled shot to the near post. As Everton failed to clear the ball, Fleming sent a cushioned side-footed volley to the corner.
Erin Cuthbert nearly doubled the lead for the visiting team a few minutes later with a shot from 25 yards that Courtney Brosnan saved well.
Everton grew in confidence following that. Justine vanhaevermaet flicked Payne’s right-footed low ball and forced Berger into a defensive position.
Chelsea’s German goalkeeper saved them once again when Millie Bright missed a kick from her teammate Niamh’s throw in back to the player. This left Piemonte with a one-on-1 situation, but Berger stopped Piemonte’s low strike.
Charles stopped Payne well after Nicoline had set the opportunity up on the right. Everton then had an attempt at a goal disallowed as the half time approached.
Payne crossed the ball from the left to Holmgaard, who shot. Berger stopped the attempt, and Vanhaevermaet bundled in the loose ball. But the Belgian midfielder’s offside was flagged.
Chelsea responded to the pressure at the beginning of the second period, Cuthbert hitting a 20-yard rising shot into the bar. Kerr was crowded in the penalty area.
In the 62nd, they did get another goal, with a sweeper move that ended in Johanna Rytting Kaneryd crossing the ball from the left and Kerr smashing it in at the near-post.
As the away team chased the third goal, Lauren James shot just wide. Fran Kirby then played in Beever-Jones for a final minute cross-goal effort.
Beever-Jones, who cut from the left and fired a beautiful shot into the upper corner of the goal to secure the victory in the 90th minutes.
