Veerle Buurman’s own goal earns Aston Villa WSL draw at wasteful Chelsea
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Aston Villa held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Women's Super League season, with a Veerle Buurman own goal in the 79th minute cancelling out Lauren James's early strike and denying Sonia Bompastor's side victory in their first match at Stamford Bridge, their new permanent WSL home. Chelsea dominated the game but were unable to convert their overwhelming superiority into a win, with manager Bompastor admitting afterwards that the profligacy in front of goal left her side "exposed" and frustrated despite the statistics.
Chelsea took the lead in the 11th minute when confusion at the back allowed the ball to fall to James, who finished emphatically into the roof of the net. Chelsea had 65% possession and 34 shots to Villa's seven, and 57 touches in the opposition box compared with Villa's five, yet were repeatedly denied by an outstanding display from new Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma. Villa equalised in the 79th minute when Noëlle Maritz's effort, following a Lynn Wilms cross, was blocked by Hannah Hampton and deflected in off Buurman, securing a point in front of 7,900 fans and continuing Villa's toughest possible start against a side they had lost to in all 12 previous WSL meetings.
- Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa in WSL opener at Stamford Bridge, their new home ground
- Lauren James scored early; Veerle Buurman's 79th-minute own goal levelled it
- Chelsea dominated stats but wasted chances; Villa keeper Okuma starred
New here? Start with this
Aston Villa are a Women's Super League side who have never beaten Chelsea in the league before this fixture. Chelsea, under manager Sonia Bompastor, are the WSL's dominant force in recent years and were playing this match at Stamford Bridge, which has just become their full-time home ground rather than a venue used only occasionally.
The match was the opening fixture of the new WSL season, meaning both clubs' league form and title ambitions are being judged from this game onwards. Lauren James is one of Chelsea's key attacking players, while Veerle Buurman and Akane Okuma are recent additions to Aston Villa's squad, with Okuma joining as their new goalkeeper.
The result matters because it set an early marker for both clubs: whether Chelsea can continue their recent grip on the league, and whether Villa can show they are capable of taking points off the strongest teams despite past struggles against them.
More coverage