The Blues lifted the first silverware of the 2020/21 campaign, as a 30-yard screamer by Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert’s smart finish saw off Manchester City in an entertaining Community Shield.
This was the first-time since 2008 that the domestic season started with the traditional curtain-raiser between the league champions and FA Cup holders, although with last season’s FA Cup still to be finished, 2019 winners City stepped up to face us at Wembley Stadium.
They both certainly played their part in what was largely an even contest, although one which largely remained goalless after a series of missed chances. Sam Kerr had several opportunities, most of them in a first half in which Manchester City also hit the post as it somehow remained 0-0 at the break.
Both sides continued to spurn chances early in the second half, but the dismissal of Jill Scott for a second bookable offence allowed Chelsea to take control of the game and the decisive moment came just a few minutes after the England international’s red card.
Bright was the scorer, striding forward from defence to take a pass from Ji So-Yun in her stride, before unleashing a ferocious strike from distance that flew into the top corner. The centre-half and her team-mates jubilantly celebrated another Wembley wondergoal, following the three spectacular efforts on Chelsea’s last appearance at the ground for the 2018 FA Cup final.
Substitute Cuthbert put the seal on the win with a fine finish in stoppage time after the ball fell invitingly for her and it was now clear the Blues would be lifting their eighth silverware of Emma Hayes’s eight-year reign.