Barclays WSL reigning champions Chelsea Women made a winning start to the new campaign as they beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Khadija Shaw forced an early save from Hannah Hampton, Ayaka Yamashita pushed a Sandy Baltimore effort behind before Aggie Beever-Jones put Chelsea ahead from Ellie Carpenter’s cross.
City responded well as Shaw was denied again and Alex Greenwood’s free kick smacked against the crossbar.
Yui Hasegawa powered a volley at Hampton soon after the restart and went close again but Maika Hamano doubled the lead with a finish from Wieke Kaptein’s cross.
City pulled one back with 20 minutes to play, a free kick going in off Niamh Charles’ head for an own goal.
Shaw saw one strike saved and another go narrowly over, Hampton parried a shot from Lily Murphy as the hosts kept their slender lead.
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