Mayra Ramírez makes unpicking defences look effortless. It's impossible not to watch in awe as she unmasks even the most experienced WSL defenders with a turn, a shrug, a touch or a flick.
Her goal in the fourth minute of Chelsea's game at Arsenal in October placed the final nail in the coffin of Jonas Eidevall's tenure, and it would be hammered down by the hosts' 2-1 defeat. With her back to goal, Ramírez capitalised on poor defending and hooked the ball over her head, beyond Daphne van Domselaar and in.
She is a player made for the big moment and now she is settled in London, having joined Chelsea from Levante in January for a British record €450,000 (£375,000) plus add-ons, and ready for more.
Tomorrow, Sonia Bompastor's unbeaten side host their title rivals Manchester City at Stamford Bridge and Ramírez will face arguably the WSL's most in-form centre-back, Alex Greenwood. "I love it," says the unassuming Colombian. "They're the challenges that any player wants to have - facing the best players in the best teams. Earlier today, I played against Millie [Bright] in training. I get to practise against the best in training sessions almost every day - that makes you grow as a footballer. Man City will be a great challenge."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 15, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 15, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Maresca 'happy' but Chelsea streak ends
The immediate aim of the Friedkin Group is to restore stability to Everton after their takeover on Thursday. In some ways, Sean Dyche has beaten his new employers to it. High-flying Chelsea became the latest team to run into a royal blue wall and out of ideas as they lost valuable ground in the title race.
The Sphinx's plot Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?
Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?
Political football
Sport has shown me success is not about quick wins but collective effort
Usyk retains his class in and out of ring in beating Fury
Boxing is full of unsavoury people but it also produces extraordinary men such as the heavyweight champion
Time for the cackling disrupter to make his exit but there is no shame in losing to a true great
In the end everyone runs out of road. It was probably necessary for Tyson Fury to say he was robbed in the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.
Theory of nothing earns Saints and Rusk worthy draw
It turns out it wasn't so hard after all. Southampton stopped giving the ball away in their own half, adopted an approach rooted in expediency and kept their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Semenyo shatters United to leave Amorim facing squall
After mid-morning wind and rain that might have caused Noah a problem, the skies cleared and Bournemouth took apart a Manchester United team as amateurish as any of the iterations of the past decade or so.
Burke helps Saracens show title ambitions
It was a cold, bleak midwinter afternoon in north London but the race to be crowned as England's top club side in 2025 is hotting up.
Pereira's Wolves reign gets off to flying start
It took less than 45 minutes of Vítor Pereira's Wolves tenure for the fans to sing his name as he witnessed his new side thrash Leicester.
Díaz and Salah double up in leaders' statement win
Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, having played one game fewer than second-placed Chelsea, with the latest illustration of their remorseless cut and thrust under Arne Slot.