Tag: wsl
Paris Saint-Germain 0 Chelsea 1: Green hails might of Bright and the WSL after Blues beat PSG
PAUL GREEN praised Millie Bright for volleying Chelsea to victory as they got their Champions League trophy chase off to a flier.
Her effort helped the Blues seal a gritty 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain with another French giant beaten by an English side.
Blues general manager Green, who was Doncaster Rovers Belles director during Bright’s 2009 to 2014 spell at the club, said: “Millie used to be a striker when we were together at Doncaster.
“She must have been remembering that time when the ball came to her at the back-post.
“It was a fantastic finish, and I thought her overall performance as part of that defensive unit was really solid.
“She’s a top player and she certainly put in a top performance.”
The WSL title-holders’ Group A opening victory comes a day after Arsenal fired five goals past Lyon on Wednesday night.
The French champions were run ragged as the Gunners turned on the style to claim a memorable win.
Read More Sports Stories
Goals in both spells saw Jonas Eidevall’s side dispatch the 15-time French champions.
The club currently have several senior stars injured including Ada Hegerberg, Catarina Macario and Greidge Mbock.
Green believes wins for the Gunners and the Blues show the strength of the Women’s Super League with both sides laying down markers for their European rivals.
He added: “It shows how far the English league has come that ourselves and Arsenal have come to the top two teams in France and got two victories.
“Lyon have a lot of injuries at the moment so I’m sure they’ll be back.
“PSG are still a very strong team and they’re both very respected in Europe.
Most read in Champions League
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“Yes, the English teams have won over the last couple of evenings but there’s a long way to go in the group and a long way to go in the competition.
“It’s a really positive thing for the English league and does show how far it’s come.
“In years gone by it was probably unthinkable that teams would come to France and win games like this.
“Maybe five or six years ago the English teams wouldn’t have been in that position.
“It’s full credit to ourselves and Arsenal for the two performances.”
Emma Hayes, who is recovering from a hysterectomy, may not have been present on the touchline for her side’s first Champions League fixture this term.
But it was business as usual for her aces whose efforts were watched by Neymar at the Stade Jean Bouin.
Bright got the ball rolling in the first-half firing Chelsea ahead in the 27th minute after Sam Kerr tested Sarah Bouhaddi with a close-range effort in the first quarter.
The hosts were missing the services of star striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
They looked to hit back in the second spell with Laurine Fazer firing a volley over the bar.
They began to pressure Chelsea in the final third with former Lyon defender Kadeisha Buchanan intercepting a 65th-minute cross from Kadidiatou Diani.
But the visitors held out to claim a gritty win and second spot in Group A.
WSL experiencing ticket sale boom with Chelsea having to open extra stands at Stamford Bridge thanks to Euro 2022 bounce
WOMEN’S Super League sides are experiencing a ticket sales boom off the back of England’s Euros triumph.
Tottenham, Brighton and Reading have all flogged record amounts ahead of the new campaign which kicks off next month.
Chelsea, who have already sold out season tickets, have also opened two more stands at Stamford Bridge for their opener against West Ham on September 11 to cater for the extra demand.
Spurs host Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the day before, for which tickets are also going fast.
The North Londoners hold the current WSL record for attendance (38,262) for their game against Arsenal in November 2019.
Brighton were believed to be selling up to 400 season tickets a day in the days following the Euros win – described as “staggering” levels of interest by club insiders.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
The Seagulls are up 563 per cent on sales compared to this time 12 months ago and are already up 144 per cent on last year’s final numbers.
Brighton have also sold 2,200 tickets for the season-opener versus Aston Villa at the Amex.
There are still 24 days to go to the start of the new WSL campaign but Reading have already sold 420 season tickets. Last term, they had only flogged 98 on the eve of the new season.
While there is clear evidence of a spike in interest at the Royals following Sarina Wiegman’s side’s epic win over Germany.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
On the Friday before the showpiece, the Berkshire outfit had sold 106. A week later, they were up to 410.
Reading’s record crowd is around 1,500, but they are hoping for nearer to 2,000 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium for their curtain-raiser against Liverpool next month.
They have already had to open more areas of the West Stand where they usually put fans to cater for the extra demand.
England have already sold out October’s friendly with world champions USA at Wembley.
There are a limited number of tickets remaining for their next home match – a World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on September 6.
Meanwhile, a new Uefa report has suggested the commercial value of the women’s game in Europe could be set for a six-fold increase a year over the next decade.
The Business Case for Women’s Football study examines potential growth in club football on the continent and is predicting an annual value of £578million by 2033.
Read More on The Sun
The report sets out the case for investment in club and league football based on the popularity of the women’s international game, as well as the recent strides at club level.
Nadine Kessler, Uefa’s head of women’s football, said: “The potential of the women’s game is limitless and we believe we are on course to take women’s football to heights that were unimaginable just a few years ago.”