Chelsea Women’s Player Ratings vs Aston Villa: Hannah Hampton at it Again as England Goalkeeper’s Heroics Keep Blues Perfect in WSL

Hampton’s Heroics and Chelsea’s Grit Shine Through

There are afternoons in football when everything doesn’t quite click, yet the mark of champions is finding a way to get the job done. That was exactly the case for Chelsea Women, who battled their way to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday to make it back-to-back wins at the start of the new Women’s Super League (WSL) season.

The match had all the drama you’d expect from early-season football: a sluggish start, moments of brilliance, frustration in front of goal, defensive lapses, and—crucially—a goalkeeper who simply refused to be beaten. For Chelsea, that savior was none other than Hannah Hampton, who returned to haunt her old club with a string of outstanding saves that kept the champions alive when they were wobbling.

This wasn’t the polished, free-flowing Chelsea performance that fans are accustomed to, but it was one that underlined the depth of their squad and the importance of individual moments. When the team needed a spark, they got one—from Aggie Beever-Jones’ opener, from Keira Walsh’s deflected strike, and from Sam Kerr’s fairytale return after nearly two years on the sidelines.

And at the heart of it all, Hampton reminded everyone why she is England’s No.1.

A Shaky Start but a Ruthless Response

The game began brightly for Chelsea. With 22 minutes gone, they carved open Villa thanks to Catarina Macario’s clever movement. After missing an early chance, Macario drove into the final third, combining neatly before Ellie Carpenter whipped in a cross that Beever-Jones buried with a composed header. It was classic Chelsea: incisive, clinical, and seemingly a sign of things to come.

But football rarely sticks to the script. Aston Villa hit back through Ebony Salmon, who unleashed a sensational strike over Hampton to level the game. The equaliser energized Villa, and suddenly Chelsea looked rattled. Salmon had further chances, Kirsty Hanson tested Hampton, and the visitors looked in real danger of crumbling.

Fortunately for Sonia Bompastor’s side, Hampton was equal to everything else Villa threw at her, keeping the score level at half-time. Without her interventions, Chelsea could easily have been two or three goals behind by the break.

Bompastor’s Big Call: Substitutions that Changed the Game

Credit must go to manager Sonia Bompastor. Recognizing that the midfield was losing control and the wide areas were being exposed, she made a triple substitution at the interval—a bold but decisive move.

On came Erin Cuthbert, who immediately restored balance in midfield, snapping into tackles and dictating tempo. Alyssa Thompson, the headline deadline-day signing, made her long-awaited debut and didn’t disappoint. With pace, energy, and confidence, the young American winger stretched Villa’s backline and gave Chelsea a new dimension going forward.

It wasn’t long before Chelsea reaped the rewards. Walsh’s strike, albeit fortunate thanks to a deflection off Missy Bo Kearns, put them ahead. And then came the moment that had Chelsea fans smiling from ear to ear: Sam Kerr’s return.

Sam Kerr’s Fairytale Return

After 634 days out with a devastating knee injury, Sam Kerr finally stepped back onto a WSL pitch. The anticipation was palpable, and though she looked rusty at first—turning down a golden chance by passing when she could’ve shot—the Aussie superstar wasn’t to be denied her storybook moment.

In stoppage time, a scrappy corner fell her way. Instinctively, Kerr pounced, stabbing the ball beyond Ellie Roebuck to seal the game. The outpouring of joy was emotional, both on the pitch and in the stands. For Kerr, it was proof that hard work and perseverance pay off. For Chelsea, it was reassurance: their talismanic striker is back.

Chelsea Women’s Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa v Chelsea FC – Barclays Women’s Super League

Goalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (8/10):
This was the Hampton show. Save after save in the first half kept Chelsea alive when Villa threatened to run riot. Commanding, brave, and sharp, she was the difference between a potential defeat and victory.

Ellie Carpenter (5/10):
Delivered the assist for Beever-Jones’ opener with a well-timed cross but struggled defensively. Too often caught high up the pitch, leaving gaps that Villa exploited.

Nathalie Bjorn (7/10):
A warrior at the back, producing key interventions. Her last-ditch defending prevented Villa from capitalising on dangerous positions.

Millie Bright (6/10):
A solid presence, using her experience to frustrate Villa’s forwards. Not flawless, but her leadership was important during a rocky first half.

Niamh Charles (4/10):
A tough outing. Struggled in one-v-one duels and was wasteful in possession. Withdrawn at half-time as Chelsea reshuffled.

Midfield

Catarina Macario Chelsea 2025-26

Keira Walsh (5/10):
Not her sharpest performance. Failed to track Salmon for Villa’s equaliser and looked off the pace. Redeemed herself slightly with the strike that led to Chelsea’s second.

Wieke Kaptein (4/10):
Anonymous in the first half and withdrawn at the break. Couldn’t impose herself in midfield.

Catarina Macario (6/10):
Guilty of missing a sitter early on but made amends with her role in Chelsea’s opener. Grew into the game and looked more influential after half-time.

Attack

Aggie Beever-Jones Chelsea 2025-26

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (4/10):
A quiet game. Struggled to influence proceedings despite staying on until the 75th minute.

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):
In the right place at the right time for the opener. Worked tirelessly to give Chelsea an outlet during difficult spells.

Guro Reiten (4/10):
Energetic without being effective. Worked hard off the ball but couldn’t find her rhythm. Hooked at half-time.

Subs & Manager

Sonia Bompastor Chelsea 2025-26

Alyssa Thompson (7/10):
An encouraging debut. Full of pace and intent, she stretched Villa’s defence and tracked back diligently. A sign of things to come.

Erin Cuthbert (7/10):
Changed the game in midfield. Her energy and leadership were crucial in swinging momentum back to Chelsea.

Sandy Baltimore (4/10):
Replaced Charles but failed to offer much stability. Some sloppy moments defensively.

Sam Kerr (N/A but deserves a 10/10 moment):
Dream return. Came on for the final 15 minutes and scored her first goal in nearly two years. Emotional and unforgettable.

Oriane Jean-Francois (N/A):
A late cameo to help see out the game.

Sonia Bompastor (7/10):
Brave enough to admit her team selection wasn’t working. Her half-time substitutions turned the tide. That decisiveness could define Chelsea’s season.

Conclusion: Champions Find a Way

The headline may read: Chelsea Women’s Player Ratings vs Aston Villa: Hannah Hampton at it Again as England Goalkeeper’s Heroics Keep Blues Perfect in WSL. But this game was about more than numbers. It was about resilience, about clutch moments, and about the return of one of football’s great forwards.

Chelsea weren’t at their best, but champions rarely are every week. What matters is finding solutions—and with Hampton saving, Cuthbert battling, Thompson sparking, and Kerr scoring, the Blues found plenty.

Two games in, two wins, and a reminder to the rest of the WSL: even on their off days, Chelsea still know how to win.