Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE: Women’s Super League result and final score as new season gets underway

Champions Chelsea opened the new Women’s Super League season with a nervy victory over Aston Villa in their first match under Sonia Bompastor.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s superb strike in the 37th minute was the difference at a sold-out Kingsmeadow to give Bompastor a winning start after replacing Emma Hayes in the summer.

But Villa, who were also under a new boss in Robert de Pauw, were bright throughout and made life difficult for the hosts. Rachel Daly hit the top of the crossbar with a looping header, before the visitors pilled on the pressure in stoppage time.

In stoppage time, Hannah Hampton was forced to make two brilliant saves - denying Daly and then Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, who had been thrown forward in a final row of the dice for the visitors.

Chelsea held on to start their bid for a sixth-consecutive WSL title, where they are expected to face competition once again from Manchester City and Arsenal over the season. Those teams meet at the Emirates on Sunday.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa - WSL live

• FULL TIME! Chelsea open WSL season with nervy 1-0 win over Aston Villa

• 90+3’ SAVE! Hannah Hampton denies Villa keeper Sabrina D’Angelo in dramatic ending

• 36’ GOAL! Kaneryd curls in stunning strike for opener (CHE 1-0 VIL)

• Lucy Bronze makes Chelsea debut as Bompastor takes charge of first game

Chelsea FC Women 1 - 0 Aston Villa WFC

FULL TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:51 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea hang on! Hannah Hampton is the hero, denying Sabrina D’Angelo in the 93rd minute!

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:51

Match ends, Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:51

Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:50 , Jamie Braidwood

90+3 mins: WHAT A SAVE AGAIN! Stunning from Hampton! D’Angelo is still up and meets the cross, but Hampton tips it onto the crossbar!

What an ending!

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:51

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Hannah Hampton.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:51

Attempt saved. Sabrina D'Angelo (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs with a cross.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:49 , Jamie Braidwood

90+2 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Chelsea are hanging on and concede a corner in the 92nd minute. Sabrina D’Angelo is up for it, and it falls to Rachel Daly! But what a stop from Hannah Hampton, diving to her right!

Chelsea scramble it clear!

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:51

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Nathalie Björn replaces Guro Reiten.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:50

Maika Hamano (Chelsea Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:50

Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:50

Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs with a cross.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:49

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Millie Bright.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:49

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:43

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon replaces Lucy Parker.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:43

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Lauren James replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:41

Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:39

Foul by Millie Bright (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:38

Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:38

Attempt saved. Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:36

Offside, Aston Villa Women. Adriana Leon is caught offside.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:34

Hand ball by Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:33

Attempt blocked. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:30

Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:30

Foul by Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:28

Hand ball by Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:28

Hand ball by Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:26

Attempt missed. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:26

Attempt blocked. Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Noëlle Maritz with a cross.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:26

Attempt blocked. Paula Tomás (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:26

Attempt saved. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:24

Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:24

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beever-Jones replaces Mayra Ramírez.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:24

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Maika Hamano replaces Sandy Baltimore.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:24

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Adriana Leon replaces Chasity Grant.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:24

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Katie Robinson replaces Kenza Dali.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:23

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:20

Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:17 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:16

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:15

Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lucy Bronze.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:14

Attempt missed. Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross following a corner.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:12

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Noëlle Maritz.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:10

Hand ball by Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women).

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:06 , Jamie Braidwood

48 mins: A couple of early chances for Villa as the second half gets underway. First Hannah Hampton collects a loose ball that could have gone anywhere following a corner, then Rachel Daly’s header loops up and and onto the top of the bar. Hampton may have had it covered.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:06

Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Chasity Grant.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:06

Attempt missed. Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:04

Attempt missed. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross following a corner.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:09

Attempt missed. Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Anna Patten following a corner.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:04

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Ashley Lawrence.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:02

Second Half begins Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

20:02

Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Kirsty Hanson replaces Lucy Staniforth.

HALF TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

19:55 , Jamie Braidwood

The first goal of the WSL season!

HALF TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

19:47 , Jamie Braidwood

Aston Villa made a very good account of themselves in that half, but Chelsea had the better share of the chances and lead thanks to that stunning strike from Rytting Kaneryd.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:47

First Half ends, Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:47

Attempt missed. Millie Bright (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sjoeke Nüsken with a cross following a set piece situation.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:47

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:47

Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:47

Attempt blocked. Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucy Bronze.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:42

Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:41

Attempt saved. Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

19:36 , Jamie Braidwood

36 mins: The first goal of the WSL season - and it’s a stunner from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd!

What a hit from the winger - she cut inside onto her left foot and bent a brilliant curling effort inside the far corner.

The Sonia Bompastor era is underway - and in some style.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:37

Goal! Chelsea Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mayra Ramírez.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:32

Attempt saved. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Chasity Grant.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:30

Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:29

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Lucy Parker.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:25

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:22

Foul by Lucy Bronze (Chelsea Women).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:20

Offside, Aston Villa Women. Kenza Dali is caught offside.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:18 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: Chelsea are racking up the chances. First Lucy Bronze had a header straight at Sabrina D’Angelo from a Reiten cross, then Reiten turned wide on the volley.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:18

Attempt missed. Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:18

Attempt saved. Lucy Bronze (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:18

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jordan Nobbs.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:14 , Jamie Braidwood

12 mins: What a miss! Villa should be ahead. Chelsea fail to clear the cross from the left. It falls to Chasity Grant at the back post. She fires it across but Missy Bo Kearns turns it over the bar from about a yard.

Nusken just managed to put her off.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:14

Attempt missed. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Chasity Grant.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:13

Attempt missed. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:32

Attempt missed. Paula Tomás (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kenza Dali.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:12

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Lucy Bronze.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:09 , Jamie Braidwood

9 mins: WIDE! Another sight of goal for Reiten. Villa concede possession and Ramirez plays her through. Reiten turns but drags the shot wide.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:10

Attempt missed. Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mayra Ramírez.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:07

Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:28

Attempt blocked. Paula Tomás (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is blocked.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:05 , Jamie Braidwood

5 mins: Another chance for the champions: Reiten’s free-kick is clever and picks out Nusken at the back. The German looks to knock is back across to Bright, but it’s just out of reach and drops wide.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:06

Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:06

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:04

Offside, Chelsea Women. Guro Reiten is caught offside.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:04

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Lucy Parker.

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

19:02 , Jamie Braidwood

2 mins: An early chance for Chelsea! After Millie Bright wins the ball inside the Villa half, the ball drops to Guro Reiten on her left foot, but the volley is dragged wide.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:03

Attempt missed. Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Millie Bright with a headed pass.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

19:02

First Half begins.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

18:54 , Jamie Braidwood

New faces in the dugouts and on the pitch. The start of the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season is moments away.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

18:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea have a 100 per cent record against Aston Villa since they were promoted to the WSL, winning all eight games against tonight’s opponents over the past four seasons.

Why a ban on autographs also reflects the changing face of the WSL

18:30 , Karl Matchett

On the opening night of the Women’s Super League season, a new era will begin with the end of a custom that for so long was seen as one of the many attractions of the women’s game.

Through its formative years and into the professional era, it was seen as a selling point of the WSL that matchgoing supporters felt as if they had a “closer” relationship with the players than in the men’s game, which seemed to be heading in the other directions as the rise of transfer fees and salaries further added to the sense of detachment between the pitch and the stands.

Women’s football felt more open: even the biggest names in the league, like the England internationals, seemed more authentic, as evidenced by the regular sight of playing giving time back to their supporters at the end of matches, acknowledging their presence by stopping to take pictures by the side of the pitch and signing autographs.

It is a practice that will continue at some of this weekend’s games – but not at Chelsea. The champions announced in a notice to supporters last month it was no longer “safe or sustainable” for players to sign autographs or take selfies with fans “in an uncontrolled way” after matches at Kingsmeadow. Instead, the club said that they would hold “organised opportunities” away from match day.

Of course, such a move reflects positive change, that the WSL and women’s football at the top level in England is growing to the point that players can no longer accommodate the requests of every fan at full time. Rising attendances render it impossible anyway, particularly when games are played at the club’s main stadium: Arsenal, for example, have largely left those days behind them as a virtue of committing to playing at least 11 matches at the Emirates this season. And their average attendance last season was over 35,000 – above that of half the Premier League.

Jamie Braidwood’s big WSL preview:

Why a ban on autographs also reflects the changing face of the WSL

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

18:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Lucy Bronze reveals Champions League ‘dream’ after returning to WSL with Chelsea

18:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Lucy Bronze aims to complete her “dream” by winning the Champions League with an English side following her move to Chelsea earlier this summer.

The 32-year-old returned to Women’s Super League with five-time reigning champions Chelsea following two trophy-laden years with Barcelona to try and take the London club to their first Champions League.

The England international has won the top European trophy five times throughout her illustrious career, three with Lyon before going on to win it in both seasons during her time in Spain, but is still looking to add to her tally.

Lucy Bronze reveals Champions League ‘dream’ after returning to WSL with Chelsea

Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Team news!

18:08 , Jamie Braidwood

Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore make their full debuts for Chelsea in the first WSL line-up named by Sonia Bompastor. Erin Cuthbert is fit to start in midfield while Lauren James is on the bench for the home side.

For Aston Villa, Missy Bo Kearns starts following her move for Liverpool in the summer while Sabrina D’Angelo makes her first start in the WSL for the club. Rachel Daly leads the line and Jordan Nobbs, a former fan favourite of rivals Arsenal, starts too.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Team news!

18:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Buchanan, Lawrence; Cuthbert, Nusken; Reiten, Baltimore, Kaneryd; Ramirez

Aston Villa XI: D’Angelo; Maritz, Patten, Parker, Tomas; Nobbs, Staniforth, Grant; Kearns, Dali; Daly

Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze and five new WSL signings to watch this season

17:50 , Karl Matchett

The new Women’s Super League season gets under way after a summer transfer window that featured a number of eye-catching moves.

Here, we highlight five players to look out for in the campaign ahead, all of whom are starting life with new employers.

Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze and the new WSL signings to watch this season

Chelsea v Aston Villa - live

17:45 , Karl Matchett

Chelsea all set to host the opening game of the WSL season against Aston Villa - team news on the way soon.

WSL key talking points

17:40 , Karl Matchett

The Women’s Super League returns with the 2024-25 season’s first round of fixtures being kicked off by champions Chelsea hosting Aston Villa tonight - here, we look at some of the talking points heading into the opening matches.

Emma Hayes' Chelsea successor and major talking points for new WSL season

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website