It had to happen some time.
The only surprise was that it was against Everton at Kingsmeadow, writes Jane Grove.
Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea finally lost a league game for the first time in a year and a half, with home fans staring in disbelief at the 1-0 scoreline on the giant illuminated board as they traipsed home.
“I think we were the better team tonight,” said the gaffer, citing five woodwork strikes as evidence.
But the Toffees scored the only goal, on the gallop in the 12th minute, then weathered a 78-minute onslaught to claim points they desperately need.
“You have to throw bodies on the line,” said Everton manager Brian Sorensen, when asked how the unexpected win had been achieved.
And, boy, did his players do that, blocking shots, denying Chelsea space and – yes – delaying play at every opportunity.
On several occasions Courtney Brosnan, Everton keeper and captain, fell to the ground needing treatment, leading Bompastor to call for a rule change so such interruptions aren’t used as tactical managerial touchline pow-wows with all the other players.
“They should be shown yellow cards,” she said, as a way of stamping out what she views as unsporting behaviour.
Sorensen said he had been surprised that Chelsea had lined up "without a midfield", although Keira Walsh might take issue with the comment.
The Blues did overload the forward positions, with Catarina Macario, Lauren James, Alyssa Thompson, Maika Hamano and Aggie Beever-Jones all starting.
But no matter how hard Chelsea tried, they couldn’t break down a gritty, determined Everton defence, and couldn’t outjump players who also had height on their side.
After Chelsea Women’s midweek hosting of Roma at the Bridge, they head down to Brighton for their next league match.
Meanwhile Chelsea’s men played out a lacklustre draw at Bournemouth before a tough weekend fixture when, yes, Everton visit Stamford Bridge, hoping for a first men’s and women’s double in the space of a week.
