# World’s first $1m women’s footballer Girma has Chelsea debut cut short

The USA centre-back Naomi Girma’s debut for Chelsea ended early as she was brought off with an injury in their 2-2 draw at Brighton.

The world’s first $1m women’s footballer, who signed for Chelsea from San Diego Wave in January for a $1.1m (£874,000) fee and has had to wait patiently for her debut while recovering from a calf injury that caused her to miss the SheBelieves Cup in February, had to be withdrawn just before the hour. It was an absorbing contest in which a hard-working Brighton side gave Chelsea more than just a scare.

The result maintained Chelsea’s unbeaten season so far in all competitions under Sonia Bompastor, but they dropped points in the league for only the second time. Chelsea went early on, thanks to an emphatic volley from France’s Sandy Baltimore, but the Netherlands left wing-back Marisa Olislagers drew Brighton level in the 22nd minute from a tight angle.

Chelsea fell behind before half-time when Vicky Losada scored for the hosts, but Lauren James scored from close range on the rebound with 29 minutes remaining to move Chelsea within just seven games of completing an entire Women’s Super League campaign unbeaten.

Chelsea’s survival hopes will, though, have been boosted ever so slightly by another defeat for second-bottom Aston Villa, who have lost three league games out of three since the arrival of their head coach, Natalia Arroyo. The Spaniard, who has tasted victory with Villa in the Women’s FA Cup, saw her side lose 2-0 at home against Everton, who are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone and looking very likely to be playing WSL football next season.

Manchester City also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.

Aston Villa also suffered a loss, with Jasmine Matthews’ 10th-minute effort being enough to give the Merseyside club all three points three days after Matt Beard’s departure was announced. Both clubs had lost their managers in the space of a remarkable 30 hours, with Palace sacking Laura Kaminski 14 league games after she had guided them to promotion. The former Norway interim manager Smerud was appointed as her replacement on Saturdav, but his new side remain four points adrift at the foot of the table.

Palace’s survival hopes will, though, have been boosted ever so slightly by another defeat for second-bottom Leicester City, who have lost three league games out of three since the arrival of their head coach, Amber Whiteley. The Spaniard, who has tasted victory with Villa in the Women’s FA Cup, saw her side lose 2-0 at home against Everton, who are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone and looking very likely to be playing WSL football next season.



Manchester City players celebrate Vivianne Miedema (right) scoring against Tottenham. Photograph: Pedro Porru/SPP/Shutterstock

## Manchester City

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Arsenal



Arsenal

## Leicester City

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Leicester City

## Arsenal

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Arsenal

## Brighton

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Brighton

## Crystal Palace

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Crystal Palace

## West Ham

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



West Ham

## Liverpool

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Liverpool

## Tottenham Hotspur

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Tottenham Hotspur

## Aston Villa

Also picked up an away victory, with Jasmine Matthews’ 10th-minute effort being enough to give the Merseyside club all three points three days after Matt Beard’s departure was announced. Both clubs had lost their managers in the space of a remarkable 30 hours, with Palace sacking Laura Kaminski 14 league games after she had guided them to promotion. The former Norway interim manager Smerud was appointed as her replacement on Saturdav, but his new side remain four points adrift at the foot of the table.



Aston Villa

## Crystal Palace

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Crystal Palace

## Chelsea

Also picked up an away victory, with Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino on the scoresheet for Gareth Taylor’s team, either side of a Bethany England equaliser for Tottenham. The Japan winger Fujino showed good skill to fire in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.



Chelsea

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