Coach lauds ‘high level’ Matildas gun as Chelsea sink Arsenal
Ellie Carpenter claimed bragging rights over three of her Matildas teammates as Chelsea beat Arsenal 1-0 in a Women’s Super League derby on Monday (AEST).
Chelsea winger Alyssa Thompson scored the winner in the 39th minute in a tense clash of the heavyweights at London’s Stamford Bridge.
Ellie Carpenter of Chelsea gestures to the crowd. Getty Images
Carpenter, the 26-year-old from Cowra, was typically industrious at right back as Chelsea were able to hang on for a result that left them third on the table.
“Ellie’s performing really well,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor told Stan Sport.
“Ellie is performing at a really high level, game after game. I think the performances, but also the impact she brings for the team.
“She’s a really important player for us… I’m pleased with the performance she has.”
Mary Fowler’s Manchester City remain top after they beat bottom club Charlton Athletic 1-0 to make it four wins from four, but Bompastor’s unbeaten Chelsea underlined their title ambitions by inflicting Arsenal’s first defeat of the season.
Arsenal were far better in the opening exchanges, but their lack of end product was punished when Thompson pounced to slam home a rebound.
“We didn’t start the game the way we wanted to, but we were able to react and to adjust some of the tactical aspects, especially in the high press,” Bompastor said.
“I think we controlled much better the second half, and we were able to keep a clean sheet against Arsenal, which is not something really easy to do, especially when you look at their quality as a team, but also as individuals. The second half, I think with the ball we were much better.”
Arsenal’s team features Australian stars Kyra Cooney-Cross, Stephanie Catley and Caitlin Foord.
The Gunners are now seventh of 14 teams.
“We dominated, but we let ourselves down and let them score against us, so it’s on us,” Cooney-Cross told Stan Sport.
“We had a few chances, hit the post... I think we are confident, we have the connection. We’re just not getting it in the back of the net, and we’re not creating enough clear-cut chances.
“We’ll just keep doing what we’ve been doing, hopefully start scoring some more goals, but we just need to be patient and hopefully, it all comes. The girls need to keep playing freely, keep their minds clear and hopefully, it comes.”
Cooney-Cross chose not to make herself available for Australia’s October games against Germany and Haiti.
The midfielder returned to Arsenal this month after taking a break to be with her mother, who died from cancer in July.
The day’s most impressive performance came from free-scoring Tottenham Hotspur, who hammered struggling Aston Villa 4-0.
Victoria Pelova netted twice for Spurs, who are second on the table on 10 points, ahead of Chelsea thanks to their goal difference of +13.
Japanese substitute Suzu Amano scored three minutes from full time as Birmingham City snatched a 3-3 draw at home to Crystal Palace, and Manchester United grabbed their first win of the WSL season in a 2-1 home victory over West Ham United.
Spain international Alexia Putellas got her first WSL goal when London City Lionesses beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 to leave them in fourth place on nine points, two ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, who continued their solid start to the season with a 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
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