Matildas ace Caitlin Foord did her utmost to put a stop to Arsenal’s woes but even her brilliant solo goal couldn’t stop them sinking to another dispiriting 2-1 defeat at home to champions Chelsea.
Foord proved Arsenal’s livewire down the left flank and it was a goal out of nothing just before halftime that brought the Gunners to life at the Emirates Stadium after Chelsea had moved into a dominant 2-0 lead through their brilliant Colombian Mayra Ramirez and French international Sandy Baltimore.
Picking up the ball near the left corner flag, there was nothing on for Foord but she shimmied past star England defender Lucy Bronze along the goalline and, though the narrow angle was against her, then worked the ball back on to her right foot to somehow unleash a pinpoint finish via the far post.
The brilliance, in front of a crowd of 45,860, was typical of some of the fare the 29-year-old has produced for Arsenal this term in what has been a pretty tough time for the Gunners.
Foord was voted the Arsenal fans’ player of the month for September and continued her flying form here with another wholehearted effort.
But Chelsea were still too good for the home side as they now lead the table with a perfect nine points after their opening three games.
Arsenal, in contrast, have five points from four and sit sixth in the 12-team standings, a fairly calamitous start for a side with such high ambitions under their increasingly under-pressure boss Jonas Eidevall.
Foord’s response kick-started a much better showing from Arsenal after the break but after their substitute Stina Blackstenius hit the crossbar late, there was nothing left to cheer for the home fans after a week in which their Champions League hopes had also taken a major dent with a 5-2 hammering by Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s win, even without their still injured totem Sam Kerr, maintained new coach Sonia Bompastor’s 100 per cent league record, while her predecessor Emma Hayes, now boss of the Olympic-winning USA women’s team, was in the stands to watch.
Foord’s fellow Matilda Kyra Cooney-Cross came on late as a second-half sub for Arsenal while Olympic captain Steph Catley remained on the bench.
#Foords #WSL #stunner #vain #Arsenal #lose #Chelsea
