Baltimore stunner gives Chelsea vital WSL victory over City
Sandy Baltimore’s stunning strike sent Chelsea to the top of the Women’s Super League as they inflicted Manchester City’s first defeat of the season, beating them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The France international let fly with her left foot four minutes into first-half stoppage time, and the ball flew past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. It was Chelsea’s first shot on target of the game.
City were reduced to 10 players in the 76th minute when Yamashita misjudged a ball, missed it and brought down Alyssa Thompson, and was shown a straight red card.
The result lifts Sonia Bompastor’s side above City and a point clear at the top. Chelsea have 26 points from 10 games, while City, the champions, have 25, having started the day two points clear.
Chelsea are now the only unbeaten side in the division.
They won despite losing three players to injury. Kadeisha Buchanan went off after 13 minutes and was replaced by Veerle Buurman. Melvine Malard was forced off after 35 minutes, with Aggie Beever-Jones coming on. Baltimore did not come out for the second half and Maika Hamano took her place.
City should have taken an early lead when Bunny Shaw’s run down the left set up Aoba Fujino, who swept wide. At the other end, Yamashita reacted well to keep out Malard’s low shot.
Malard was unable to connect with a teasing cross from Baltimore, and Beever-Jones volleyed wide shortly before the break.
City pushed hard after the interval, and Lauren Hemp somehow missed from a yard out with the goal gaping. Ellie Carpenter wasted a great chance to double Chelsea’s lead after 70 minutes, when Thompson’s close control set her up at the back post.
Beever-Jones hit the crossbar with a 20-yard free-kick moments after the sending-off, beating City’s replacement goalkeeper Eartha Cumings. Iman Beney twice went close for City late on, and Lucy Bronze made a crucial block to deny Shaw.
