Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored two goal-of-the-season contenders as Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Women's Super League season.

With the injured Lauren James watching on from the stands, Kaneryd scored an outrageous jumping volley to make it 3-1 in the 70th minute.

The Sweden midfielder was not finished there, as she added her second with a superb jinking run and powerful finish into the roof of the net to round off the scoring in a dominant Blues win.

In an end-to-end first half, Chelsea took the lead through Maika Hamano as she swept home on her first WSL start of the season thanks to a fine cutback from Kaneryd.

An equaliser came in controversial fashion as Blues goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was judged not to have kept out a mishit diagonal pass from Spurs’ Amanda Nilden.

As the ball was sailing high towards the goal, Hampton had to jump to palm the ball down onto the goalline but the assistant referee raised his flag and, with goalline technology not available in the WSL, a goal was awarded - much to the dismay of Hampton who picked up a yellow card for her protests.

Chelsea regained the lead minutes before half-time with Nilden's attempted clearance skimming off the top of her head and beyond keeper Becky Spencer.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute after a handball by Clare Hunt and Guro Reiten's spot-kick slammed against the base of the post only for Sandy Baltimore to finish the rebound.

Eveliina Summanen scored a consolation goal late on, curling a brilliant free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner to make it 4-2, before Kaneryd finished the match in style.

Chelsea will look to make it five wins from five when they travel to winless Everton after the international break, while Spurs host West Ham.

Can the goal-of-the-season award be handed out in October? No, but if it was then Kaneryd would be a worthy winner.

"For sure, one of the best," said Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor to Sky Sports when asked about the the volley.

She added: "I hope she's going to grow again. She had some great goals and her performance was a really high performance.

"I think she’s confident right now on the pitch, understands exactly what I expect from her, good chemistry with her team-mates, and I think she’s really helping the team to perform and get the good results. That’s so nice to enjoy watching her scoring nice goals."

The Sweden international made fans gasp and team-mates laugh in disbelief after firing her side into a 3-1 lead with an amazing, side-footed volley with both feet off the ground following a speculative ball into the box by Millie Bright.

Kaneryd is the only player to have started every game in the Bompastor era and it is clear to see why, you cannot leave her out while in this sort of form.

The 27-year-old’s confidence is sky high and it does not look like coming down any time soon.

Kaneryd told Sky Sports: "First of all, I'm getting consistent in games. Playing a lot and then of course it’s about feeling like I’m in a good physical shape right now and then I can do more of what I’m good at.

"I feel good and it’s all about confidence and believing in yourself. I’ve been working with my left and I’ve been scoring some goals with it. Yeah, I’m happy."

With Everton to come after the international break, Kaneryd will be looking to add to her three WSL goals and two assists.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1339 HRS, OCT 21, 2024
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