Aggie Beever-Jones hails ‘world-class’ Ellie Carpenter after debutant inspires Chelsea win over Manchester City in Women's Super League
Published 05/09/2025 at 22:53 GMT+1
Debutant Ellie Carpenter inspired Chelsea to a 2-1 win at home to Manchester City in the reigning champions’ season-opening Women's Super League match. Carpenter set up Aggie Beever-Jones for the first goal in the 31st minute before Maika Hamano made it 2-0 after the break. The visitors pulled one back through a Niamh Charles own goal, but The Blues hung on to wrap up the three points.
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Video credit: SNTV
Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones heaped praise on team-mate Ellie Carpenter after her sublime debut performance inspired The Blues to a season-opening 2-1 home victory over Manchester City in the Women's Super League (WSL).
The reigning champions got their title defence off to the perfect start as a new star emerged under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
Carpenter, a summer signing from Lyon, was a constant thorn in City’s side and set up Beever-Jones for the opening goal in the 31st minute.
The hosts took that lead in at the break and doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Maika Hamano got the better of City shot-stopper Ayaka Yamashita.
A Niamh Charles own goal with 20 minutes remaining got the visitors back into it, but Chelsea were able to hang on for the three points.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Beever-Jones said: "Ellie put it on a plate for me. It was incredible. I thought Ellie was outstanding today. I'm delighted to come away with a win and start the season strong.
"I think for me, Ellie is a world-class player and genuinely one of the quickest players ever, so I knew she was going to get there. For me, it was about keeping my head and putting it in the back of the net.
"Watching it again, Ellie's put it on a plate, so I've got to say many thanks to her, but it's about doing a good pre-season and we're ready to start a good campaign. We're feeling good with ourselves and we're happy."
Carpenter was named the player of the match, and the Australian was understandably delighted to kick off the campaign with a win.
"We're playing with a five [at the] back, so it allows me to get up more in attack. We've been working a lot in training and pre-season for six weeks," she said.
"Obviously, the early cross in behind and Aggie [Beever-Jones] tapped it in, so [it] made me look good. Very happy with the win. We wanted to start strong and get the three points and we did that."
She added: "Pre-season was hard. It was actually my first pre-season I've ever done with a team. It was really nice to create those relationships with the team, being new. I think we worked on those foundations and [are] really jelling as a team."
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City created chances but lacked the quality in front of goal and failed to really trouble Hannah Hampton between the sticks for Chelsea.
But manager Andree Jeglertz was disappointed his side failed to come away with anything.
"Of course I'm disappointed," he said. "I think we deserve [something] based on how we were playing, especially in the second half and the chances we are creating, I think we should have a result with us.
"But when we analyse the game afterwards, there are a lot of things we can bring with us that show that we are challenging Chelsea during the whole game and we definitely will do that during the season."
As well as leaving empty-handed, City face a wait to find out the extent of injuries to Alex Greenwood and Lily Murphy.
Jeglertz was unable to provide any additional insight on either but said Murphy was "very sad and in a lot of pain" when she came off.
Chelsea face Aston Villa away from home next, while City take on Brighton & Hove Albion at home.
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