Sonia Bompastor led Chelsea to victory in her first Women’s Super League match as manager as they narrowly beat Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow.
A stunning first-half strike from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was enough for three points as the Swede cut inside and struck the ball perfectly into the far corner.
But Chelsea were hanging on by a thread in stoppage time as goalkeeper Hannah Hampton first clawed away Rachel Daly’s header, before tipping an effort from her opposite number Sabrina D’Angelo over the crossbar.
It was a dramatic end to the WSL’s opening match which marked Bompastor’s arrival and a new era at Chelsea.
The defending champions are seeking a sixth WSL title in a row – but a first without influential former manager Emma Hayes.
Banners were on display around Kingsmeadow marking Bompastor’s “revolution” and there were new faces in the Frenchwoman’s starting XI, including a debut for England defender Lucy Bronze.
It was also a first WSL match in charge for new Villa boss Robert de Pauw and he put his stamp on the team, with them showing plenty of promise in London.
Villa debutant Missy Bo Kearns missed a huge chance early on when she sent fellow summer signing Chasity Grant’s cross sailing over the bar and Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to be alert on occasions in the second half.
However, Chelsea’s quality ultimately shone through, with Kaneryd’s effort a fine goal to seal victory, marking a superb start to the Bompastor era.
Chelsea made to work by impressive Villa
Excitement had been building as champions Chelsea prepared to open the new WSL season at home, in front of a sell-out crowd of 4,337 at Kingsmeadow.
The streets outside the ground were bustling with fans wearing this season’s new kits and displaying plenty of new names on the backs of their shirts.
Bronze’s was one of them. Her arrival grabbed the headlines with the five-time Champions League winner, 32, a big addition to Bompastor’s squad and she had a solid display on her debut.
France forward Sandy Baltimore was another exciting signing and she showed her pedigree from the start, running at Villa’s backline and dribbling with the ball at speed.
But Villa had some stardust of their own too.
Kearns left childhood club Liverpool in the summer in the hope of regular gametime, and in her preferred, advanced midfield role.
She was granted her wish by De Pauw and took her opportunity, causing problems when Villa won the ball back in the first half and linking up nicely with fellow debutant Grant – a lively presence on the right wing.
Meanwhile, new Villa left-back Paula Tomas was kept busy by the explosive Kaneryd and goalkeeper D’Angelo had to be wary of efforts from Guro Reiten, Kadeisha Buchanan and Erin Cuthbert.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper D’Angelo almost scored what would have been a sensational goal had Hampton not kept out her header in the dying seconds, when she went up for a free-kick.
Villa knew this would be a tough ask on the opening day of the season but De Pauw’s side looked impressive in possession and well organised out of it.
While they come away with defeat in London, there were plenty of signs to suggest they will achieve their ambitions of finishing inside the league’s top six – an improvement on last season.
Chelsea have greater ambitions. They want to maintain their WSL dominancy and add more silverware but this was a reminder, if they needed one, that it will not be easy.