Football Review | Chelsea 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Walsh’s wonder strike earns Chelsea vital win over Spurs

The England midfielder’s first goal for the club seals victory for the champions after two frustrating draws

Author | Lauren W

Stadium | Kingsmeadow Stadium

Views from around the ground

Chelsea returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.

Sonia Bompastor’s side, who had been held to consecutive draws by Manchester United and Twente, were made to work for the points despite dominating for long spells.

The breakthrough finally came in the second half when Keira Walsh fired a superb strike into the bottom corner, her first goal for Chelsea and her first in the WSL since 2021.

The hosts had started brightly, with club record signing Alyssa Thompson flashing an early shot wide and Nathalie Bjorn heading off target from the first of 13 first-half corners. Wieke Kaptein then missed a golden chance when she failed to convert Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross from close range.

Chelsea pile the pressure on

After the interval, Thompson tested Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop with a fierce drive, while Ellie Carpenter saw her effort fly narrowly over. When Walsh’s long-range shot finally found the net, it came as Chelsea’s 23rd attempt of the game.

The win lifts the champions to 16 points from six matches at the top of the table, while Tottenham sit four points behind.

Spurs show progress but gap to WSL elite remains

Tottenham supporters will take plenty of encouragement from their team’s progress, even if their latest test against Chelsea ended in defeat.

Few would have expected Spurs to be just a point behind the champions going into this fixture, but under new manager Martin Ho they have made a bright start, winning four of their first six Women’s Super League matches. The organisation, belief and energy that were often missing last season have been replaced by a renewed sense of direction.

It has been a striking transformation under the former Manchester United and Everton assistant, given Spurs managed only five wins across the whole of the previous campaign. That progress was evident again at Kingsmeadow despite the result.

Spurs showed discipline and resilience in a first half dominated by Chelsea, who registered 15 shots and 13 corners. While the visitors spent much of the game pinned back and created little in attack, they succeeded in limiting clear-cut opportunities for the reigning champions.

Eventually, the pressure told when Walsh escaped the attention of captain Bethany England to produce a moment of brilliance and secure Chelsea’s narrow win.

For Spurs, it was another reminder of the distance still to travel if they are to challenge the league’s elite. Yet under Ho’s guidance, their early-season performances have offered genuine cause for optimism.