English Women's Super League

FT Saturday, September 5, 2026
Aston Villa WLLLL 1
–
Chelsea WLWWW 1
1st2ndT
AVL011
CHE101
Stamford Bridge

Match Report

Alex Burstow/Getty Images

Chelsea held to draw by Aston Villa in their first WSL game of the season

Aston Villa's third-choice goalkeeper Akane Okuma enjoyed a debut to remember as a wasteful Chelsea paid the price for their profligacy by conceding a late equaliser in their Barclays Women's Super League opener.

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

5
Fouls
2
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
1
Offsides
3
0
Corner Kicks
13
9
Saves
3
35.2
Possession
64.8
7
SHOTS
34
3
ON GOAL
9
0.4
On Target %
0.3
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
0
259
Accurate Passes
506
325
Passes
568
0.8
Pass Completion %
0.9
0
Accurate Crosses
13
3
Crosses
39
0.0
Cross %
0.3
31
Long Balls
21
12
Accurate Long Balls
11
0.4
Long Balls %
0.5
1
Blocked Shots
8
5
Effective Tackles
11
12
Tackles
15
0.4
Tackle %
0.7
15
Interceptions
8
37
Effective Clearances
11
37
Clearances
11

Head to Head

CHE leads series 5-0

Lineups

CHE · 3-1-4-2

  1. 24Hannah HamptonG
  2. 5Veerle BuurmanCD
  3. 15Katie McCabeCD-L
  4. 22Lucy BronzeCD-R
  5. 21Keira WalshSW
  6. 10Lauren JamesCM-L
  7. 6Sjoeke NüskenCM-R
  8. 12Alyssa ThompsonLM
  9. 2Ellie CarpenterRM
  10. 33Aggie Beever-JonesCF-L
  11. 19Wieke KapteinCF-R

Substitutes

  1. 1Livia Peng
  2. 16Giulia Dragoni
  3. 38Rebecca Spencer
  4. 4Naomi Girma
  5. 26Kadeisha Buchanan
  6. 32Lexi Potter
  7. 11Sandy Baltimore
  8. 23Maika Hamano
  9. 17Nelly Las

AVL · 4-4-1-1

  1. 23Akane OkumaG
  2. 3Mathilde HarvikenCD-L
  3. 15Lucy ParkerCD-R
  4. 16Noelle MaritzLB
  5. 14Lynn WilmsRB
  6. 21Lucia KendallCM-L
  7. 5Justine KiellandCM-R
  8. 17Chasity GrantLM
  9. 27Mia McaulayRM
  10. 20Amalie VangsgaardF
  11. 13Maya HijikataRCF

Substitutes

  1. 18Georgia MullettSUB
  2. 40Soffia KellySUB
  3. 4Anna PattenSUB
  4. 33Katie ScottSUB
  5. 25Miri TaylorSUB
  6. 24Océane DeslandesSUB
  7. 19Lily MurphySUB

Timeline

  1. 11' Goal! Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ellie Carpenter.
  2. 35' Delay in match because of an injury Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women).
  3. 35'
  4. 36' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  5. 36'
  6. 52' Delay in match because of an injury Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea Women).
  7. 52'
  8. 53' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  9. 53'
  10. 59' Delay in match because of an injury Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women).
  11. 59'
  12. 59' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  13. 59'
  14. 59' Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Miri Taylor replaces Maya Hijikata.
  15. 70' Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lily Murphy replaces Mia McAulay.
  16. 70' Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Océane Deslandes replaces Chasity Grant.
  17. 70' Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Georgia Mullett replaces Amalie Vangsgaard.
  18. 71' Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  19. 77' Delay in match because of an injury Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women).
  20. 77'
  21. 78' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  22. 78'
  23. 78' Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Anna Patten replaces Lucia Kendall.
  24. 79' Own Goal by Veerle Buurman, Chelsea Women. Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 1.
  25. 82' Substitution, Chelsea Women. Sandy Baltimore replaces Wieke Kaptein.
  26. 90'+4' Justine Kielland (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Women's Super League News

All news
ESPN PA Man United net late equaliser to end Man City's perfect WSL record Elisabeth Terland struck a superb late leveller to give Manchester United a 1-1 Women's Super League derby draw against Manchester City. News Emily Keogh Tottenham boss: WSL refereeing 'has got worse' after dubious Arsenal penalty Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Ho said that refereeing in the Women's Super League (WSL) "has got worse" following a contentious penalty awarded in Arsenal's favour. ESPN Emily Keogh Arsenal finally get some luck to beat Spurs, but they need to start playing as a team Arsenal eased the pressure on manager Renee Slegers with a 2-1 win over rivals Tottenham in the WSL, but a wonder strike and a lucky penalty were the difference. ESPN PA Alessia Russo penalty leads Arsenal past Tottenham in WSL Arsenal recorded their first Women's Super League win since the opening day of the season as they came from behind in contentious circumstances to beat Tottenham 2-1 in the north London derby.