Chelsea come out victorious in enthralling pre-season friendly against AS Roma | OneFootball

Chelsea have continued their preparations for the new season with a 3-2 victory over AS Roma in a pre-season friendly at Kingsmeadow this evening.

The English champions faced-off against the Italian champions in a fascinating pre-season clash and it was Emma Hayes’ Blues who came out on top.

It was the Italians who drew first blood early in the game. Benedetta Glionna received the ball on the right and floated a delightful delivery into the box to find Emilie Bosshard Haavi. The Norwegian forward produced a wonderful bit of magic to put her team ahead. The Roma number 11 opened up her body and produced a delicious side-foot volley that was perfectly placed into the bottom corner of the Chelsea net

The visitors’ lead didn’t last long as Chelsea levelled the match after 25 minutes through Guro Reiten. Roma failed to clear a cross into the area and Fran Kirby was afforded the time to lay the ball off to her teammate who ferociously struck her effort through a cluster of bodies and into the goal.

The match then turned into its own ‘Goal of the Year’ competition as Manuela Giugliano regained the lead for Roma with a rocket from 25 yards into the top corner. Chelsea keeper Zećira Mušović was able to get a hand to the ball but it was all in vain.

Never one to be outdone, Lauren James then stepped up with a screamer of her own. The young England star took the ball under her control and drove towards the Roma defence. The Italians’ backline foolishly retreated from the onrushing forward and she took the opportunity that was afforded to her. James let fly with a lofted effort which went over Camella Ceasar’s head, the ball being put well beyond the reach of the Romanian goalkeeper.

It was a relatively quiet second half in comparison to the first but those watching the match got to witness a little piece of history. The incident came when Jessie Fleming tried her luck from 25 yards out and as the ball struck Eseosa Aigbogun, a penalty was awarded for hand ball. After a quick VAR check, the decision was overturned as an offence was deemed to have taken place outside the area. That was the first moment that a decision was changed at a Barclays Women’s Super League ground after a review by VAR.

The match looked to be heading for a draw but Chelsea snatched the victory at the death. Aggie Beever-Jones got herself on the end of a cross with a superb near post run to poke the ball past Tinja-Riikka Korpela and put Chelsea in front for the first time in the game.

It was ideal preparation for the coming season for Hayes’ side as 20 players were given game time across the 90 minutes in what was a very hotly-contested tie that felt anything but a pre-season friendly.