New signing Ellie Carpenter stole the show on Friday night as Chelsea began their Women’s Super League title defence with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
The Australia international, making her first appearance since arriving from Lyon this summer, was deployed as an attacking wing-back and immediately made her mark. Ellie Carpenter pinpoint cross set up Aggie Beever-Jones for the opener, underlining exactly why Blues head coach Sonia Bompastor was so keen to bring her to London.
“I know Ellie by heart, and I’m not really surprised about her Chelsea debut and her debut in the league,” Bompastor said after the win. “She’s a great player. As you could see tonight, she brought an immediate impact on the performance and on the result. She has this quality, so it’s a good addition to our squad and it’s good to have her here.”
Chelsea doubled their lead through Maika Hamano before a late own goal from Niamh Charles gave City hope in the closing stages. Sam Kerr, Carpenter’s fellow Matilda, was back in the matchday squad for the first time in almost two years after a serious knee injury, though she remained an unused substitute.
For Bompastor, it was a positive first step in what is expected to be another gruelling campaign. “We had a strong start to the season tonight, and I’m pleased with that,” she said. “But it’s only the first game. It’s important to start with three points, but we still have a long way to go.”
Ellie Carpenter individual performance was especially eye-catching. Club statistics showed she won eight of her nine duels, regained possession seven times, made six tackles and two interceptions, and created two chances with six dangerous crosses into the box. It was the type of complete, high-energy display Chelsea fans will hope becomes the norm.
The 25-year-old already has a glittering CV. During her four-year spell at Lyon, Ellie Carpenter collected four league titles, two Coupes de France and two UEFA Women’s Champions League medals under Bompastor’s management. Before that, she played in the NWSL with Portland Thorns and began her career in Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United.
With nearly 100 senior caps for the Matildas, plus appearances at both the World Cup and Olympics, Carpenter brings pedigree as well as potential. And on this evidence, she could quickly establish herself as one of the defining signings of Chelsea’s quest for a seventh straight WSL crown.
