Late goals from Chelsea’s Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby denied Leicester City a first point in the Women’s Super League at Kingsmeadow.
Substitute Harder stabbed home a Jessie Fleming cut-back to finally break the visitors’ resistance after 82 minutes.
And Fran Kirby slotted home in stoppage time as Chelsea moved into second behind Arsenal, who beat Everton 3-0.
Promoted Leicester had looked set to be the first WSL team to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea in three years.
Sam Kerr had seen an effort cleared off the line while Foxes keeper Kirstie Levell made a series of superb saves.
Defeat means Leicester become the first WSL side to lose their first five games of the season since Yeovil lost their opening six in 2018.
Champions Chelsea last failed to score in a league game in a 0-0 draw with Birmingham in October 2018, but for 82 minutes Leicester looked set to keep them out.
Niamh Charles went close with an early header while Fleming forced a fine save from Levell with a powerful effort from long range.
Harder, who was brought on at the break, forced another good stop from Levell in the 62nd minute moments after Jessica Sigsworth had cleared a Magdalena Eriksson effort off the line.
Denmark forward Harder broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining before Kirby sealed the win on the counter-attack.
Chelsea players and staff had joined arms before the game in solidarity with players in the US who have made sexual misconduct allegations against English coach Paul Riley.
National Women’s Soccer League team North Carolina Courage sacked Riley following the allegations, which he denies.
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Musovic
- 4Bright
- 3Nouwen
- 16ErikssonSubstituted forCuthbertat 73′minutes
- 17Fleming
- 5IngleSubstituted forJiat 65′minutes
- 24SpenceSubstituted forHarderat 45′minutes
- 25AnderssonSubstituted forReitenat 65′minutes
- 14Kirby
- 9EnglandSubstituted forKerrat 45′minutes
- 21Charles
Substitutes
- 7Carter
- 8Leupolz
- 10Ji
- 11Reiten
- 20Kerr
- 22Cuthbert
- 23Harder
- 29Fox
- 30Berger
Leicester City Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 28Levell
- 6Brougham
- 5McManus
- 22Plumptre
- 23PurfieldBooked at 31mins
- 27O’BrienSubstituted forde Graafat 70′minutes
- 3Tierney
- 8Pike
- 21Cain
- 7FlintSubstituted forBailey-Gayleat 70′minutes
- 9SigsworthSubstituted forHowardat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lambourne
- 14de Graaf
- 15Howard
- 17Bailey-Gayle
- 20Zajmi
- 37Brown
- 40Robinson
- 48Harris
- Referee:
- Lisa Benn
- Attendance:
- 2,716
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea Women 2, Leicester City Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea Women 2, Leicester City Women 0.
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Goal! Chelsea Women 2, Leicester City Women 0. Fran Kirby (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sam Kerr with a headed pass.
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Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
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Esmee de Graaf (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Abbie McManus (Leicester City Women).
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Substitution, Leicester City Women. Sophie Howard replaces Jessica Sigsworth because of an injury.
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Goal! Chelsea Women 1, Leicester City Women 0. Pernille Harder (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jessie Fleming.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Jemma Purfield.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Abbie McManus.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Georgia Brougham.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Georgia Brougham.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Abbie McManus.
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Attempt missed. Pernille Harder (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Georgia Brougham.
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Attempt missed. Fran Kirby (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Fran Kirby (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Georgia Brougham (Leicester City Women).
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Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
