Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa: Blues bounce back from cup exits
Chelsea bounced back from successive cup exits to return to the top of the Women's Super League by beating Aston Villa.
Emma Hayes' side were handed a gift after just four minutes as Villa keeper Anna Leat dived to save a Sjoeke Nusken shot with her hands outside the penalty area and was shown a red card.
A player down, Villa cracked under Chelsea's pressure and Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring when she curled past replacement goalkeeper Sophia Poor after a perfectly placed Niamh Charles cross.
There was no respite for 17-year-old debutant Poor and Chelsea got their second when Maika Hamano turned home after Catarina Macario flicked an Ashley Lawrence cross into her path.
Chelsea, who were beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and lost to Arsenal in the League Cup final on 31 March, were dominant throughout as they enjoyed the majority of possession and were patient going forward.
The result never seemed in doubt and they extended their advantage when Kadeisha Buchanan headed home a Macario delivery in the second half.
Victory in their game in hand sent Chelsea back above Manchester City on goal difference, while Aston Villa remain in seventh place.
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Chelsea boss Hayes had said before Wednesday's fixture that her players needed to "show up" but Villa's early sending off meant it was never going to be too troublesome a task.
They enjoyed freedom in possession as Villa were forced to sit deep, striker Rachel Daly having to drop into defence.
Villa couldn't cope, though, and they were torn apart on the wings - particularly on the right, where Charles regularly found a way behind their backline.
Macario showcased her dangers from set-pieces on her first start and both Charles and Nusken nearly converted from them in the first half.
Hayes made seven changes with an eye on Saturday's Women's Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona, and there was no Lauren James in the squad, but the rotation did not hold Chelsea back - rather, they flourished.
While Villa had not played a game since 30 March, they had no option to rotate anyway, and were only able to name six substitutes.
First-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is out with an injury and Leat's three-match suspension will make selecting a squad even more difficult for Villa.
Chelsea's attention must turn quickly to the Champions League as they continue their quest to win the competition for the first time in Hayes' final season as manager, but they go into two weekends of European action knowing they have the advantage at the top.
They are level on points with Manchester City, but have a goal difference that is two goals better - which could prove crucial with just four games remaining in the race for the title.
