Crystal Palace Women were defeated 3-1 by Chelsea in the Barclays Women’s Super League at The 360 Engage Stadium, despite taking a deserved lead into half-time.
Palace produced an excellent opening 45 minutes and successfully contained the eight-time champions for long periods. Molly Bartrip gave Jo Potter’s side the advantage in the 20th minute, meeting Fuka Tsunoda’s corner at the back post and turning it home. The goal was Palace’s first against Chelsea in the WSL.
The hosts had to withstand early pressure before taking the lead. Allyson Swaby cleared a Chelsea corner from near the line, while goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin made a fine double save to deny Melvine Malard at close range.
Chelsea changed two players at the interval and equalised six minutes into the second half. Malard found space before firing an unstoppable effort into the top corner. Palace nearly restored their lead when Bethany England shot over following a deep free-kick, but Malard struck again in the 75th minute to put the visitors ahead.
Chelsea then added a third from the penalty spot after Bartrip was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area. Substitute Sandy Baltimore converted to complete the scoring, leaving Palace in 12th place with other teams still to play.
