Match ends, Chelsea Ladies 2, Sunderland Ladies 1.
Chelsea WomenChelsea Women2Sunderland LadiesSunderland Ladies1
Chelsea moved to within four points of Women's Super League One leaders Manchester City with a comeback win over struggling Sunderland.
Stephanie Roche was given acres of space to put the visitors ahead after good work from Beth Mead.
The goal was a wake-up call for Chelsea as captain Katie Chapman headed in Karen Carney's free-kick to level.
Waves of attacks followed and Fran Kirby nodded in what proved to be the winner as Sunderland's defence cracked.
The home side should have won by more, Eniola Aluko forcing several excellent saves from Rachael Laws, but the points end Chelsea's two-game losing run while Sunderland stay second-bottom.
Chelsea skipper Katie Chapman: "We were disappointed to go a goal behind because we wanted a fast start and really wanted that first goal.
"But we did respond and we managed to get a goal back quite quickly and I think that gave us the momentum from there and we played really well.
"We are a resilient side and got it back on track and have done it a few times this season where we've come back from behind."
Sunderland striker Stephanie Roche: "We always knew we would have to defend deep and not let them get behind us and in the end we were chasing the ball for 90 minutes, which is very hard.
"I thought we held good lines and tried not to let them get behind us and then we got the goal and that gave us a little boost, but the sucker punch was they got the goal back straight away.
"We just need to regroup now and get ourselves going for the second half of the season."
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Lindahl
- 3Blundell
- 6Fahey
- 5Flaherty
- 11RaffertySubstituted forBorgesat 26'minutes
- 17Chapman
- 7DavisonSubstituted forEnglandat 80'minutes
- 8Carney
- 10JiSubstituted forSpenceat 70'minutes
- 9Aluko
- 14Kirby
Substitutes
- 4Bright
- 12Spencer
- 15England
- 16Borges
- 24Spence
- 25Bailey
- 26Rafferty
Sunderland Ladies
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Laws
- 46Brown
- 5Bannon
- 14Sharp
- 21Williams
- 37Staniforth
- 19Chaplen
- 7RamshawSubstituted forJohnstonat 61'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 8McDougallSubstituted forFurnessat 68'minutesBooked at 75mins
- 10Roche
- 9Mead
Substitutes
- 2Holmes
- 4Furness
- 11Johnston
- 17Joice
- 18Beer
- 24Gunn Olsen
- 36Potts
- Referee:
- Robert Whitton
- Attendance:
- 1,397
Match Stats
Home TeamChelsea WomenAway TeamSunderland Ladies
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home36
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home14
- Away2
- Corners
- Home13
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea Ladies 2, Sunderland Ladies 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Bethany England (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Ladies. Conceded by Steph Bannon.
Post update
Attempt missed. Drew Spence (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Eniola Aluko with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Ladies. Conceded by Rachael Laws.
Post update
Attempt saved. Francesca Kirby (Chelsea Ladies) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Karen Carney.
Post update
Ana Borges (Chelsea Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Beth Mead (Sunderland Ladies).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Katie Chapman (Chelsea Ladies) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea Ladies. Conceded by Hayley Sharp.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Drew Spence (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bethany England.
Post update
Attempt saved. Katie Chapman (Chelsea Ladies) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
Booking
Krystle Johnston (Sunderland Ladies) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ana Borges (Chelsea Ladies) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Krystle Johnston (Sunderland Ladies).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Ladies. Bethany England replaces Gemma Davison.
Post update
Delay in match Rachel Furness (Sunderland Ladies) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Sunderland Ladies. Conceded by Katie Chapman.
