SPORTS
Chelsea End Winless Run with Comfortable Brighton Victory
Chelsea ended their four-game winless streak in the Women’s Super League with a comfortable 3-0 away victory against Brighton.
A stunning individual goal from Sandy Baltimore in the 42nd minute rewarded Chelsea’s first-half dominance, before a Caitlin Hayes own-goal and an Alyssa Thompson strike put the game beyond Brighton.
Chelsea came into the match following a first WSL defeat in 34 games and three consecutive draws before that, leaving the defending champions six points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley – standing in for Chiamaka Nnadozie who had a concussion – frustrated Chelsea by tipping a Baltimore volley over the crossbar before blocking Thompson’s diving header, while Keira Walsh hit the post with a long-range drive.
But French winger Baltimore showed her quality when she drove forwards on the left flank, cut inside past a defender and curled a right-footed shot into the far top corner.
Sonia Bompastor brought on Sam Kerr at the break and the Australian striker had a near-instant impact – it was her lurking presence in the box that left Brighton defender Hayes with no choice but to head into her own goal from a driven Erin Cuthbert cross.
Chelsea looked their old selves from that point on as Wieke Kaptein then Kerr forced Baggaley into smart saves in quick succession.
Brighton boss Dario Vidosic brought on former Chelsea forward Fran Kirby in the second half, but the hosts could not find a way back into the contest.
Thompson wrapped up victory in the 73rd minute by converting first-time from Kerr’s low cross, her third goal in her past four WSL outings.
Chelsea leapfrog Arsenal into second place in the table but remain six points behind leaders Manchester City, who beat Aston Villa 6-1 on Sunday. Brighton remain seventh with 14 points.
Are Chelsea back? With a month until their next WSL game, it was important they showed the kind of quality and ruthlessness that saw them win six consecutive league titles and complete last season unbeaten.
Earlier this week Bompastor said she did not feel her switch to a back four had caused Chelsea’s dip in attacking output, but on Sunday she reverted to the three defender and wing-backs system Chelsea began the season with.
Wing-backs Ellie Carpenter and Baltimore were constant threats on either side, even if it did take their team-mates a while to find the right passes to feed their runs.
Wayward finishing and sloppy final balls cost Chelsea goals early on, but Baltimore’s moment of brilliance meant the visitors weren’t under pressure to score after the break.
That seemed to have a freeing effect, as Chelsea attacked with greater fluidity and efficiency thereafter.
Kerr’s introduction at the start of the second half gave Chelsea a focal point and presence that Aggie Beever-Jones didn’t offer – her failure to gamble on Lauren James’ early low cross was a case in point.
Brighton had Baggaley’s six saves to thank for keeping the score respectable, though they did spurn a couple of half-chances on the break when Chelsea left bodies up the field. That’s something for Bompastor to try and snuff out.
Holders Nigeria’s Super Falcons will discover their group opponents at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
The draw ceremony will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has expanded the biennial competition to 16 teams.
The Super Falcons, hosts Morocco Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde are among the teams that will compete for the title.
Others are Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
The 16 qualified teams will be seeded into four pots based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking from 11 December 2025.
CAF will also announce the winners of the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year and other outstanding women’s football awards at the draw ceremony.
The WAFCON 2026 finals will run from 17 March to 3 April, 2026.
Super Eagles players have threatened not to travel to Marrakech for their next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Algeria unless all outstanding winning bonuses are paid by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
A highly reliable source within the team disclosed.
According to the source, players and officials are reportedly still awaiting their bonus payments from the tournament.
It was gathered that win bonuses for the four matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique have yet to be settled.
While the team remains committed to the competition, they have made it clear that they will not train or travel to Marrakech for the next match unless the outstanding payments are resolved, our source confirmed.
Recall that in November, the team also threatened to boycott their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon, citing unpaid entitlements.
In a joint statement signed by players and staff, the squad said, “The full squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game with Gabon.”
Chelsea have announced the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach.
Rosenior will take charge at Stamford Bridge following Enzo Maresca’s departure last week.
The 41-year-old signed a contract until 2032.
Rosenior arrived at the London club after coaching overseas with RC Strasbourg, where he led the French club to European qualification for the first time in 19 years in his first season, and following earlier roles in England with Hull City and Derby County.
‘I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies,” Rosenior told the club’s official website.
‘My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves.
‘I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success.
‘I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.
‘There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club.
‘I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.
‘I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.’
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