Chelsea held their nerve to defeat a well-drilled Brighton & Hove Albion side 3-1 at Kingsmeadow this afternoon, gaining revenge for last season’s shock defeat in the process.
The Blues were stunned as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat last season but history did not repeat itself this year despite the visitors’ best efforts.
Chelsea started brightly with Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr directing efforts wide before Reiten made it third time lucky after finding space on the left to drill the ball beyond Megan Walsh.
At the other end, Magda Eriksson performed a brave block to deny the visitors an equaliser before Walsh got her body behind another Reiten shot.
Chelsea were to go into the break 2-0 up when Fran Kirby’s long ball caused confusion in the Brighton & Hove Albion defence and Kerr headed into an empty net.
With their ears ringing from a half-time Hope Powell teamtalk, the visitors came out brightly and they soon reduced the areas through Dan Carter’s clinical finish.
After weathering some Brighton & Hove Albion pressure, Chelsea had chances to regain their two-goal advantage but Kirby fired high and wide before Walsh pushed a Reiten free-kick to safety.
In the end, it was a substitute who put the game to bed with Beth England firing into the roof of the visitors’ net after being the recipient a Kirby pass, capping-off a 3-1 victory. The goal came moments after her introduction from the bench.
Chelsea now turn their attentions to the start of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in midweek when they host VfL Wolfsburg while Brighton & Hove Albion will look to bounce back against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
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