Chelsea Women fought hard to secure a 2-2 draw against Brighton Women in a pulsating Women's Super League (WSL) encounter. The match, held at Brighton's home ground, marked the debut of U.S. international Naomi Girma for Chelsea, but also posed challenges as she left the pitch with a potential calf injury. Brighton dominated the first half, leading at halftime due to goals from Marisa Olislagers and Vicky Losada. However, Chelsea's resilience shone through in the second half, with Lauren James netting an equalizer that stirred offside controversy.
Chelsea started strong, taking an early lead with their first shot on goal. Sandy Baltimore found the back of the net, giving Chelsea a brief advantage. Brighton responded swiftly, leveling the score just six minutes later when Marisa Olislagers scored in the 22nd minute, setting the tone for an intense first half.
Brighton maintained pressure and took the lead in the 42nd minute through Vicky Losada, ending the first half 2-1 in their favor. Naomi Girma's debut was cut short during this period as she was substituted due to a suspected recurrence of her calf injury, raising concerns about her fitness moving forward.
Chelsea emerged from halftime with renewed vigor. Lauren James scored in the 61st minute, equalizing for Chelsea. Her goal initially raised eyebrows due to its perceived offside position, but it stood as officials did not spot any infraction.
"It's lucky for Chelsea because they've salvaged a point. That decision, in another game, might have been given as offside." – Izzy Christensen
The match saw further challenges as Brighton had to substitute Vicky Losada and Fran Kirby due to knocks sustained during play. Despite these setbacks, Brighton's head coach Dario Vidosic praised his team's performance.
"We put in a lot of effort, intensity and had a good belief in how we play. We took a lot of confidence the first time we matched up." – Dario Vidosic
Vidosic highlighted that this result marked only the second instance this season where Chelsea dropped points, yet they still hold a commanding five-point lead at the top of the WSL standings. Despite Brighton's efforts, they remain in fifth place but have advanced to 19 points.
Chelsea's head coach Sonia Bompastor reflected on the match's dynamics and emphasized the importance of a strong start in future games.
"We need to start the game with the same intention that we had in the second half." – Sonia Bompastor
Bompastor also expressed concern over Girma's condition, indicating that further assessment and scans might be necessary to determine the extent of her injury.
As both teams continue their WSL campaigns, Chelsea aims to maintain their lead while addressing areas for improvement identified during this match. Meanwhile, Brighton looks to build on their performance and secure a higher standing in the league.
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