Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham - WSL: Player ratings as Kerr heads Blues closer to WSL title
By Ali Rampling
Chelsea are two games away from retaining their WSL crown after their 2-1 victory over Tottenham at Kingsmeadow - their second win over Spurs in the space of four days.
Emma Hayes' side will lift the WSL title for the third successive season if they win their remaining two matches after goals from Beth England and Sam Kerr saw them to victory on Thursday evening.
In a game that Chelsea dominated for large spells, Kerr, Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder all came close to giving the Blues the lead before England - sacrificed on Sunday following Ann-Katrin Berger's dismissal - opened the scoring after 19 minutes. Erin Cuthbert opted to play a short corner, Jonna Andersson whipped in a wicked left-footed cross and England headed home.
Chelsea continued to dominate, with Guro Reiten and Andersson wreaking havoc down the left flank - the former drawing a good save from Tinja-Riikka Korpela after being played in by Harder.
But on the stroke of half time, Spurs equalised with their first sighting of goal, Kerys Harrop cleverly flicking Kyah Simon's free kick into the net.
The scores were level for less than a minute. Chelsea poured forward straight from the restart, Harder ghosted away from Harrop with an outrageous piece of skill and found Kerr, who headed the Blues ahead against Spurs for the second time in four days.
Cuthbert struck the post with 12 minutes remaining and England glanced Andersson's delivery just wide, and although Chelsea couldn't find a third goal, a third consecutive WSL title looks more and more likely.
Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings - WSL
1. Chelsea (4-1-3-2)
GK: Zerica Musovic - 6/10 - Did well to tip Ayane's effort over in the second half, having largely been a spectator for the opening hour.
RB: Jess Carter - 6/10 - Didn't get forward as frequently as Andersson down the opposite flank, but typically solid and dependable defensively.
CB: Magdalena Eriksson - 7/10 - Glanced a header just over inside five minutes. Cool, calm and collected on the ball, helped keep Williams quiet.
CB: Millie Bright - 7/10 - Provided a wicked delivery from which Eriksson came close to opening the scoring. Got her head on everything and anything as per usual.
LB: Jonna Andersson - 8/10 - Bombed forward and caused chaos with her delivery on numerous occasions, providing the cross from which England opened the scoring.
DM: Sophie Ingle - 6/10 - Scuffed a couple of volleys as she attempted to recreate her 2020 screamer against Arsenal, but superbly effective defensively, intelligently covering for others and shielding the back four.
RM: Pernille Harder - 7/10 - Drifted inside whenever possible, but produced a great piece of wide play in the build-up to Chelsea's second - a stunning piece of skill to get the better of Harrop, and a pinpoint cross onto the head of Kerr.
CM: Erin Cuthbert - 7/10 - Still fizzing with energy after putting in such a shift four days earlier. Clattered the post with a low, long-range drive in the second half.
LM: Guro Reiten - 8/10 - Chelsea caused all sorts of problems down the left flank, with Reiten and Andersson combining so effectively. Such a fabulous crosser of the ball
ST: Sam Kerr - 8/10 - Drew saves from Korpela with a couple of half-chances, before finding the net with her first proper sight of goal, heading home Harder's cross. Didn't stop running all evening.
ST: Beth England - 7/10 - Rose highest to meet Andersson's cross and head Chelsea into the lead. Switched to the right flank following Fleming's introduction as Chelsea reverted to a front three.
SUB: Jessie Fleming - 6/10
SUB: Niamh Charles - 6/10
2. Tottenham (5-1-3-1)
GK: Tinja-Riika Korpela - 6/10 - Very much the busier of the two keepers, making a few routine stops, and saving very well with her legs to keep out Reiten.
RB: Asmita Ale - 5/10 Struggled to contend with the lively Andersson and Reiten, with numerous dangerous deliveries being allowed from the Tottenham right.
CB: Molly Bartrip - 6/10 - Made a headed goal-line clearance to prevent Chelsea from doubling their lead in the first half. Struggled to deal with the lively Chelsea left at times.
CB: Victoria Schnaderbeck - 6/10 - Lost the run of Kerr in the build-up the Chelsea's equaliser and occasionally struggled to deal with the movement of the Australian striker.
CB: Shelina Zadorsky - 7/10 - Popped up with a fabulous block to keep out a thunderous Cuthbert volley from point-blank range, followed by a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Harder.
LB: Kerys Harrop - 6/10 - Clambered above the Chelsea backline to head home Spurs' equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Quickly brought down to earth by Harder in the lead-up to Chelsea's second.
DM: Maeve Clemaron - 5/10 - Tidy in possession, but Spurs were largely second best in midfield
RM: Kyah Simon - 6/10 - Provided the set-piece delivery from which Spurs equalised, but limited in her ability to have an impact in the final third, such was Chelsea' dominance. Replaced with 15 minutes remaining.
CM: So-Hyun Cho - 5/10 - Had a relatively quiet game as Chelsea dominated the midfield, before being replaced after 53 minutes.
LM: Rosella Ayane - 5/10 - Drew a good save from Musovic with an audacious long-range effort in the second half, but otherwise quiet.
ST: Rachel Williams - 5/10 - Not as lively as heavily involved as she was on Sunday, largely on the fringes of the game and left to feed off scraps in the final third.
SUB: Eveliina Summanen - 5/10
SUB: Angela Addison - 5/10