Matildas ace Caitlin Foord did her utmost to put a stop to Arsenal’s woes but even her brilliant solo goal could not stop them sinking to another dispiriting 2-1 defeat at home to champions Chelsea.
Foord proved Arsenal’s livewire down the left flank and her goal out of nothing just before half-time brought the Gunners to life at the Emirates Stadium after Chelsea had moved into a dominant 2-0 lead through brilliant Colombian Mayra Ramirez and French international Sandy Baltimore.
There was nothing on when Foord picked up the ball near the left corner flag, but she shimmied past star England defender Lucy Bronze along the goal line and, though the narrow angle was against her, then worked the ball back on to her right foot to somehow unleash a pinpoint finish via the far post.
The brilliance, in front of a crowd of 45,860, was typical of the fare the 29-year-old has produced for Arsenal this term in what has been a pretty tough time for the Gunners.
Foord was voted the Arsenal fans’ player of the month for September and continued her flying form here with another wholehearted effort.
But Chelsea was still too good for the home side and now leads the table with a perfect nine points after three games.
Arsenal, in contrast, has five points from four and sits sixth in the 12-team standings, a fairly calamitous start for a side with such high ambitions under increasingly under-pressure boss Jonas Eidevall.
Foord’s response kickstarted a much better showing from Arsenal after the break, but after substitute Stina Blackstenius hit the crossbar late, there was nothing left to cheer for the home fans after a week in which their Champions League hopes had also taken a major dent with a 5-2 hammering by Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s win, even without still injured totem Sam Kerr, maintained new coach Sonia Bompastor’s 100 per cent league record, with predecessor Emma Hayes, now boss of the Olympic-winning USA women’s team, watching on from the stands.
Foord’s fellow Matilda Kyra Cooney-Cross came on late as a second-half sub for Arsenal while Olympic captain Steph Catley remained on the bench.
AAP
