Marta Corredera’s first-half double ensured Arsenal left Chelsea ladies with a 2-0 victory in this FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup clash to surge clear at the top of Group One.
The visitors – who suffered a disappointing loss to Manchester City Women in the FA Women’s Super League in their last outing – capitalised on two errors at the back for their duo of goals before the interval, and then worked hard to defend their lead.
Corredera took advantage of a slip-up by Chelsea goalkeeper Marie Hourihan and centre-half Gilly Flaherty on 18 minutes, collecting the loose ball and rounding the keeper to slide home.
Chelsea Ladies 0-2 Arsenal Ladies
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup
Group One
Sunday 16 August 2015
Staines Town FC
And her second was almost a carbon-copy, with Ana Borges this time finding herself in a mix-up with Hourihan, leaving Corredera space to slot the ball in again 20 minutes later.
Drew Spence went closest for Women’s FA Cup winners Chelsea in the first half, firing over the bar in injury time, and record-signing Fran Kirby – on her first start for the Blues – also caused some problems for Arsenal.
Ji So-Yun and substitute Eniola Aluko combined well for the hosts after the interval, but lacked the final ball to draw their side level.
And Sari Van Veenendaal in the Arsenal goal looked confident and was quick off her line to smother any threats from Chelsea’s forwards.
Chelsea Ladies (4-3-3): Marie Hourihan, Ana Borges, Millie Bright, Gilly Flaherty, Claire Rafferty, Laura Coombs, Jodie Brett (Eniola Aluko 45), Katie Chapman (Niamh Fahey 30), Drew Spence (Hannah Blundell 65), Ji So Yun, Fran Kirby
Subs not used: Hedvig Lindahl, Jenna Leg
Arsenal Ladies (4-4-2): Sari van Veenendaal, Alex Scott (Rachel Yankey 87), Jemma Rose, Casey Stoney, Vyan Sampson (Chioma Ubogagu 45), Dominique Janssen, Emma Mitchell, Marta Corredera, Jade Bailey, Natalia Pablos Sanchon (Carla Humphrey 88), Danielle Carter.
Subs not used: Emma Byrne, Jordan Nobbs, Evie Clarke, Georgia Allen
Bookings: Natalia Pablos Sanchon (36), Jade Bailey (71)
Attendance: 1,419
Referee: Stephen Bates
