Full Time: Chelsea Women 1-0 United Women
There it is! Chelsea hold out to secure all three points and maintain their unbeaten record at the top of the WSL.
Berger claims a United corner with confidence and Chelsea have some territory. 1 minute to go.
Stoppage time
4 minutes of stoppage time.
Not long left now...
Two minutes left of normal time. I suspect Chelsea will have quite a bit of defending to do.
Sub for Chelsea
Ji, who hasn't enjoyed her best outing this afternoon, is replaced by Jess Carter.
HOW IS IT NOT 1-1?!
Toone with the goal at her mercy is confronted by a brilliant Berger save, somehow keeping the ball out to leave it at 1-0. It's all hands on deck for Chelsea now.
Kirby denied
Spence opens up the United defence leaving Kirby to simply fire home, but her attempt to go around Earps is unsuccessful. Should be 2-0.
Sub for United
Looking for a goal, Stoney looks to Jane Ross who comes on for Lauren James.
Kirby's influence on this game cannot be understated. Again, she finds herself in acres of space and is unlucky to see her strike reach Earps.
Sub for Chelsea
Bachmann's tireless energetic contribution is over with Drew Spence coming into the game.
Ji again is caught in posession, dwelling far too long on the ball which leaves Chelse wide open again. James fails to capitalise with a rash left footed strike rising harmlessly over the untested Berger.
Sub for Manchester United
Captain Zelem departs for England u-21 international Ella Toone.
CHANCE
Another Mjelde cutback is nearly connected to by Kirby but she misses the ball by whiskers. Chances are no longer infrequent and the game is most definitely opening up, with United being presented with some more counter-attackinng opportunities.
Kirby was brought down in the box and the referee made no mistake in pointing to the spot.@MarenMjelde stepped up and converted! 👌
🔵 1-0 🔴 [64’] #CFCW — Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 17, 2019
CHELSEA GOAL
Mjelde fires home, albeit unconvincingly, to make it 1-0 Chelsea. Fran Kirby with the instant impact!
PENALTY to Chelsea
England slides in a reverse ball for Kirby who is clattered by Millie Turner inside the penalty box. PENALTY GIVEN!
Sub for Chelsea
Centurion Kirby comes on with just over 25 mintues to go, replacing Reiten.
CLOSEEE
A devilish long ball from Bright catches United's defence unaware and releases Cuthbert in behind. The Scot narrowly arrows wide in what can only be described as Chelsea's best chance of the second half so far.
56'
Some neat footwork from Lauren James earns her United team a free kick right by the Chelsea byline. Again it yields no goal and the training ground move peters out. Chelsea are yet to get going and some sloppiness is creeping into their game.
Both sides are enjoying similar spells of possession.
United are the beneficiaries of Ji's ill disicpline, gaining a free kick in a good position. Zelem's effort does not trouble Berger however.
Second half is underway
In eager spirits, United re-enter the pitch early, emboldened by their encouraging first 45 minutes. Chelsea soon follow and United get us underway again.
Beth England has had a rather peripheral role in the game so far, unable to make her usual impact such has been the lack of quality with regards to Chelsea's final ball. Could the introudction of Kirby change her fortunes?
It's a family affair
Just how proud must Nigel James and his family be feeling right now. Not only is his son peforming on the biggest of stages for his boyhood club Chelsea, daughter Lauren ain't so bad herself. Her youthful energy has terrorised Bright and Andersson all afternoon and she can consider herself extremely unlucky not to have got on the scoresheet today.
It’s a family affair. Always has, always will be. An official ⚽️ welcome to @reecejames_24, @laurenjamess22, and @NigelJamesElite! #RocFam pic.twitter.com/JrhP6scJ8a
— Roc Nation Sports (@RocNationSports) November 12, 2019
HT: Chelsea Women 0-0 Manchester United Women
There it is. A wasteful corner brings the cagey but entertaining first half to a close. Emma Hayes will be frustrated by her side's final ball but with Fran Kirby on the bench and another 45 minutes to go, there is no reason why Chelsea cannot break the deadlock.
A fizzing Zelem free kick is tipped over by an unchallenged Berger. One last chance before HT...
44'
Captain Eriksson has had enough and decides to have a go herself, barely troubling Earps from a good 25 yards out.
Potential sending off?
Whats going on here? A counter attack sees Reiten burst forward with only Turner in her way. United's no4, already on a yellow card, clatters the onrushing Norwegian and gets NO card. Baffling.
HOW?!?
James breezes effortlessly past the helpless Andersson and only a Maren Mjelde block prevents the away side from going one up.
35'
Chelsea are pressing for a goal here with 10 minutes left to go before the half time whistle blows.
Nearly for Ji!
Berger gets up to her feet and is fit to continue.
A deadly Mjelde delivery requires intervention from Earps, but her parry only reaches Ji who evades the slinding challenge of McManus and drags wide.
OUCH!
A delicate through ball only just eludes United striker James, and her follow through manages to catch Berger flush in the face. She looks to be in quite some discomfort and it remains to be seen whether Carly Telford is to come on.
CLOSEE
A marauding Bright finds Ji who lays Bachmann down the right. Earps is equal to her strike however and palms behind for a corner. Bright cannot stay out of the action and plants her header from the resulting set-piece into the grateful hands of her England counterpart. Chelsea are knocking on the door here.
Chelsea are struggling to contain James, who twists and turns past Bright before lashing over. The pressure doesn't disappear with James finding herself in a similar position yet her strike is blocked by Bright on this occasion.
17'
Amy Turner, on a yellow card, nails a perfect tackle on Beth England who has struggled with service today.
Ji, Bachmann and Cuthbert are picking up lots of space in behind the United midfield, but so far final delivery has let them down considerably. Lauren James on the other hand appears to be United's only significant threat on the counter and is troubling Millie Bright with her running of the channel.
8'
Man United are slowly gaining a hold on this encounter, with a cutback eluding the many United attackers in the six yard box.
Reiten delivers a weak ball into the penalty area and McManus can clear. A deep Erin Cuthbert corner finds Magda Eriksson who can only sky the ball for a goal kick to the away side
'Just like London, your city is blue' sing the Chelsea faithful, as both sides grapple for control in the early stages of this historic affair.
Kickoff
Ji gets the Blues underway at Kingsmeadow.
The teams are out
Magda Erikkson and Katie Zelem lead their sides out to a vociferous home support. Kickoff is only a few minutes away!!!
100 appearances for Super Fran
#FranKirby has made her 100th Chelsea appearance.
Kirby joined #Chelsea in 2015 and has won the 2017 Spring Series and the Double in 2017/18 season. pic.twitter.com/nCtmo8CJJV — Bruna Reis (@BrunaSportsJour) November 17, 2019
Only 15 minutes to kick off now!
Manchester United Women Starting XI
Your #MUWomen team for today's @BarclaysFAWSL match vs. Chelsea. 👇 pic.twitter.com/7eqfqUoVod
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) November 17, 2019
Chelsea Women Starting XI
Your Chelsea team to take on Man Utd! 🙌
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 17, 2019
Thoughts? 🤓 #CFCW pic.twitter.com/3XuKFfzHt6
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Kirby looking forward to United test
Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby spoke to chelseafc.com about Sunday's game
‘I’m really looking forward to it, they have been doing well this year. I think they have shown what qualities they have in their games that they have come through, but we have had a good start to the season and we want to continue and build on that.
‘Hopefully we put in a good performance for everyone who is coming and it will be a great day. They’ve got some really good results and they brought in some quality players so it’s going to be interesting to see where both teams are at and it’s one challenge we are really looking forward to at Kingsmeadow.’
How to watch Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women Live TV and Stream
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Manchester United Women:
Earps, A. Turner, McManus, M. Turner, Ladd, Zelem, Galton, Groenen, Hanson, James.
Chelsea Women: Predicted XI
Berger, Mjelde, Bright, Ericsson, Andersson, Ingle, Cuthbert, Reiten, Ji, Bachmann, England.
Manchester United Women: Team news
Casey Stoney will also have a nearly full side to choose from for Sunday’s tie. The only player who may be unavailable is Kirsty Smith
Chelsea Women: Team news
Chelsea have a strong contingent of players to pick to be on the teamsheet to play at Kingsmeadow. Fran Kirby has struggled with injuries throughout the season, but she says that she will be available:
‘I’m feeling really good, I’m working really hard in training and I’m feeling really good when I play,’ noted Kirby, who will be targeting a first goal of the season on Sunday.
Statement of intent with Kerr signing
Chelsea have made one of the biggest transfer moves in the Women’s game this week by securing the services of Australia captain Sam Kerr on a deal that will keep her with the Blues until 2022.
Welcome to Chelsea, @SamKerr1! 🙌#KerrIsBlue
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 13, 2019
Could United break the blues’ streak?
Promoted to the top flight last year after their reformation before the start of the 2018/19 season, Manchester United have exceeded many people’s expectations.
They fell at the hands of Arsenal and rivals Manchester City by narrow margins of one-nil in their first two - the gunners requiring a late Daniëlle van de Donk goal to break the deadlock.
Since then, they have kicked on and have won all matches whilst not conceding a goal in the process.
Chelsea are the only team in the WSL who are still unbeaten, but Casey Stoney’s side are looking as if they will be able to provide a pertinent threat and could have the ability to dispatch the blues’ streak.
Firsts
This tie will be the first ever WSL meeting between the two, with Emma Hayes’ Chelsea going into the game as the only side still unbeaten in the league.
Kick-off time
Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women will be played at Kingsmeadow, in London, England. The kick-off is scheduled at 14:00 GMT.
Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2019 Women’s Super League match: Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women !
My name is Freddie Lammie and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL UK.