Birmingham City dent Chelsea’s title hopes in Marta Tejedor’s first game in charge

Birmingham City Women ended title challengers Chelsea’s eight match unbeaten run with a thrilling 3-2 win in Marta Tejedor’s first game in charge as there was another twist in the WSL title race.

Ellen White returned from injury to score a stoppage-time winner which give Birmingham a huge win. Victory moves them level on points with the Blues and dented their opposition’s title hopes further in Marta Tejedor’s first game in charge. Erin Cuthbert bagged her second brace in as many games but it was not enough to stop the visitors from taking all three points in dramatic fashion.

Chelsea were in full control of the game from the kick-off and their dominance was rewarded 13 minutes in when they took the lead. Captain Karen Carney nutmegged a defender before fizzing in a pin-point cross which Erin Cuthbert met with an unstoppable header. The home side made life difficult for Birmingham, especially with Karen Carney driving forward on the left with Andersson on the overlap.

Cuthbert had the chance to score hers and Chelsea’s second goal of the afternoon after half an hour but uncharacteristically blazed over the bar. That miss would prove costly as just a few minutes later, Bimingham City equalised after Emma Follis poked an effort past Chelsea keeper Carly Telford from Lucy Quinn’s cross.

The away side soaked up immense pressure from Chelsea and got themselves back into the game with their only chance of the match up to that point.

It was more of the same in the second half as a goal saving interception from Birmingham captain Kerys Harrop prevented Beth England from putting Chelsea back in front.

Birmingham then squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead. Follis was through one-on-one with Telford but rolled her effort just past the post instead of finding the bottom corner with 53 minutes played. The away side could not afford to waste such glorious chances.

Fortunately for them, they did not miss their next one. On the hour mark, Lucy Quinn’s superb looping shot caught Telford off-guard and dipped over the keeper as Birmingham took the lead.

Wellings had a brilliant chance whe she raced through on goal but she was closed down by Blundell and her shot went over the bar.

Once again the Blues had squandered a great chance and this time they were made to pay. With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Cuthbert scored straight from a free-kick to get Chelsea back on level terms.

However, Birmingham and White had the final say with a stoppage time winner as there was another twist in this thrilling WSL title race with Birmingham going level on points with Chelsea.

Chelsea Starting XI: Telford, Blundell, Eriksson, Andersson, Asante, Carney (Carter 69), Ji, Spence (Kirby 59), Ingle, Cuthbert, England (Bachmann 59)

Substitutes: Berger, Carter, Kirby, Engman, Mjelde, Cooper, Bachmann

Birmingham City Starting XI: Hampton, Williams, Sergeant (Mayling 46), Ladd, Harrop, Arthur, Quinn (White 69), Follis (Walker 90+4), Wellings, Mannion, Staniforth.

Substitutes: Brooks, Mayling, White, Ewers, Scofield, Walker, Hayles

Attendance: 2,053

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