Women’s football round-up: Crystal Palace suffer brutal WSL start and Charlton begin with flawless Championship campaign
Crystal Palace’s brutal start to life in the Women’s Super League continued on Friday night as they were hammered 7-0 by reigning champions Chelsea.
The Eagles suffered an opening day 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and welcomed Sonia Bompastor’s side to Selhurst Park to host their very first top-flight game.
Aggie Beaver-Jones gave the west Londoners the lead in the 38th minute. There were six second-half goals with Lucy Bronze, Lauren James, Nathalie Bjorn and Catarina Macario on the scoresheet.Guro Reiten also scored a brace to complete Chelsea’s second-half rampage.
On Sunday Laura Kaminski’s Palace side head to Leicester City, who finished two positions away from the relegation zone last season, looking to get their first points of the 2024-25 season.
“These nights are tough, and we’ve had back-to-back world-class opposition,” said Kaminski. “It’s about as tough as it gets in terms of a start for a club that has just come up but by no means am I hiding and making any excuses in that sense.
“The first half was strong, as it was against Spurs, but we must be better coming out after half-time. It’s as simple as that and I’ve got a group that isn’t hiding from that.”
Chelsea are top of the WSL on goal difference but head to league rivals Arsenal tomorrow for Bompastor’s first tough test since replacing Emma Hayes in the summer.
The French boss said: “It is a work in progress. We still have room for improvements, in possession and out of possession.
“We are only at the beginning of the season. It’s only the second game of the season. At the high level, it is about getting results, but it still takes time to get the right chemistry.
“We are getting there, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Charlton continued their perfect start to the Championship season with a 2-0 win at Blackburn on Sunday.
First-half goals from Karin Muya and Elisha N’Dow gave the Addicks all three points and moved them three points away from second-placed Durham after four games played.
Karen Hills’ side host Sunderland, who finished third last season, on Sunday.
“We were fantastic in the first half,” said Hills.
“We worked so hard this week in training. All the players – with the intensity, speed and quality – shone through. It was a really dominant first half.”
London City Lionesses suffered their first defeat of the Championship season, a 1-0 reverse against Sunderland. The Black Cats took all three points through Natasha Fenton’s 58th-minute strike.
Hayes Lane-based London City host newly-promoted Portsmouth on Sunday.
AFC Wimbledon progressed to the second round of the National League Plate after a 7-0 win over Chesham United.
Goals from Leeta Rutherford, Hannah Mackenzie, Emily Donavan, Leanne Bell and Ashlee Hinks saw the Dons race into a 5-0 lead at half-time.
Cherelle Khassal and Bell’s second of the afternoon booked their place in the next round.
Millwall Lionesses came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Ebbsfleet United on Sunday.
Elise Jennings sparked the comeback in the 42nd minute, with Ciara Watling adding another right before half-time.
The turnaround was completed with six minutes of normal time remaining in the second half when Clementine Young finished off Maisie Joyce’s pass.
PICTURES: PA