Overview

• Hannah Hampton made multiple first-half saves to keep Chelsea level after Ebony Salmon’s equaliser threatened to tilt the game toward Villa.
• Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring with a header from Ellie Carpenter’s cross following a driving run by Catarina Macario.
• Chelsea regained control after a triple half-time change, with Erin Cuthbert steadying midfield and debutant Alyssa Thompson impressing out wide.
• Keira Walsh’s strike took a decisive deflection off Missy Bo Kearns for 2-1 before Sam Kerr sealed the result in stoppage time on her first appearance in 634 days.
• Kerr’s finish was widely recorded as her 100th for Chelsea, and the champions sit third on goal difference with two wins from two.