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Chelsea Women FC’s Erin Cuthbert had an outstanding performance against European Champions Olympique Lyon Féminine at Kingsmeadow, winning the free kick that led to Chelsea’s goal in the 1-1 draw.
The Scot won that off French international Delphine Cascarino who was booked and eventually substituted on what became a fairly torrid night for the European Champions who accrued five yellow cards on the night. Ji So-Yun curled the still ball home superbly to leave the Blues just one goal short of forcing Lyon to extra time.
In the dying moments, Cuthbert’s own set piece ability produced another dangerous delivery from Chelsea’s right creating a chance that Drew Spence narrowly put past the post. That would have forced extra time with Chelsea in the ascendance and quite a few Lyon players treading a thin line on yellow cards.
Defensively Cuthbert was always active with one sliding challenge in the left back role denying Lyon a dangerous breakaway in the second half.
Her club manager Emma Hayes had no doubt as to Cuthbert’s value both as a player and as a person:
“What a player. What a person. She’s a fantastic person who gives her all, day in day out.
“She’s growing in stature every day. She’s great on the training pitch. She’s a great tactical player, can play in multiple positions, and will never give up.
“(She’s) Scotland’s best player by a country mile for me.
“If England shut her down, which they won’t because of that …. (pauses) …. England will still win!
“Erin’s got a bright future ahead of her as long as she keeps doing all the things that got her to this point”
It wasn’t just her club coach that voiced approval of the Ayrshire born midfielder.
Freelance journalist Amy Christophers voted Cuthbert Player of the Match against Lyon and conducted the post match interview above.
She told us, with more than a hint of concern in her voice.
“Cuthbert was immense all over the field. Her workrate and attitude were fantastic and it was the Lyon players who showed signs of nerves rather than her on perhaps the biggest stage of her career yet.
On this form, England would be unwise not to take her very seriously when they meet in Nice.”
Cuthbert herself remains humble and even after her stand out performance against Lyon, did not take her selection for granted in the interview.
But it seems that along with Arsenal’s Kim Little and captain and Utah Royals defender Rachel Corsie, Cuthbert will be one of the easier decisions for coach Shelley Kerr to make when she announces her team to face England, Japan and Argentina.
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