A formidable Chelsea returned to the Champions League with their discernibly dominant style of play.An electric first half gifted a controversial penalty to Chelsea, which was converted by Sandy Balti...
A formidable Chelsea returned to the Champions League with their discernibly dominant style of play.
An electric first half gifted a controversial penalty to Chelsea, which was converted by Sandy Baltimore, before Johanna Rytting Kaneryd secured her first goal for Chelsea in the competition this season.
The second half remained in Chelsea’s control and Alyssa Thompson scored her first goal for the Blues. Erin Cuthbert delivered the final blow, securing Chelsea a further three points in the Champions League.
As it happened
Stamford Bridge hosted Paris FC in Chelsea’s second Champion’s League match this season. After a disappointing opener against FC Twente, Chelsea were looking for redemption.
Paris FC were also hoping to improve their performance in the Champion’s league after a 2-2 draw with Belgian side OH Leuven.
Chelsea entered the match looking confident. Manager Sonia Bompastor opted for experience over youth, eager to gain points. This decision paid off early with Chelsea keeping play in Paris’ defensive third for the majority of the first half.
Despite having control of the match, the Blues lacked composure in closing chances initially. Several close chances were wasted at the final moment, leaving both teams frustrated.
Sjoeke Nüsken played out of position at right back, standing in for Lucy Bronze and showing she could adapt quickly. Just five minutes in, it was she who gave Chelsea their first chance at goal, firing just wide from distance. Moments later, some great link-up between Aggie Beever-Jones and Thompson resulted in the former’s strike landing into Paris keeper Mylène Chavas’ hands.
Another missed opportunity came from a brilliant cross to Beever-Jones from Keira Walsh, but the forward’s opportunity was abruptly halted by a last-minute tackle from Paris’ Théa Greboval.
Paris did manage to break through Chelsea’s defence eventually. Captain Clara Mateo whipped a cross past Chelsea’s backline to Maëlle Garbino, who was caught short by Hannah Hampton.
A controversial VAR decision from referee Michalina Diakow gave Chelsea a penalty after deciding that Anaëlle le Moguédec deliberately clipped the ankle of Nüsken. Baltimore stepped up to take the penalty and struck the ball into the back of the net to give Chelsea the lead.
Paris responded with determination finding themselves in Chelsea’s defensive third yet again. Mateo got close to Hampton’s goal before being tackled by fellow captain Millie Bright.
A second goal for Chelsea came in the closing minutes of the first half. Thompson surged down the left-side finding Rytting Kaneryd, who headed the ball home to score her first Champion’s League goal of the season.
The second half opened with the same intensity for Chelsea. Twenty-year-old Thompson scored her first goal for the Blues less than 90 seconds in after latching onto Walsh’s blocked cross to hammer in a third goal.
However, Chelsea did make defensive mistakes on which Paris were eager to capitalise. In the 50th minute, Garbino delivered a sly cross to Mateo but this attempt was blocked by the offside flag. Minutes later, Kaja Korošec volleyed the ball wide towards Mateo but was denied by Hampton.
Paris FC looked defeated at this point, they focused on securing their defence rather than attempting to catch up with Chelsea’s dominant form.
Substitutions for Chelsea came in the 56th minute with Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten and Maika Hamano replacing Beever-Jones as well as two of the goal-scorer Thompson and Rytting Kaneyrd. Bronze made her long-awaited return after facing a fractured tibia in the Women’s Euros this summer, replacing Wieke Kaptein.
A fourth goal for Chelsea was secured right on the line by Cuthbert, extending Chelsea’s lead to 4-0 after she tapped the ball in when Kerr’s header was deflected by Paris’ defence.
Chelsea continued attempts to extend their lead but an exhausted Paris defence stood strong. Kerr appeared to playing in exceptional form and almost each touch resulted in an attempt at goal.
Extra time extended Paris FC’s misery as Chelsea relentlessly chased a fifth goal, but Paris’ defence remained secure, Deja Davis cleared several attempts from both Kerr and Bronze in the closing minutes.
The match ended with Chelsea securing a vital three points in the Champion’s League. The Blues appeared more cohesive this week, the final 4-0 score bolstering Bompastor’s choice to lead with experience over young talent.
In the end, Paris could consider themselves lucky the hosts didn’t score more.
The lineups
CHE: Hampton; Baltimore, Bright, Björn, Nüsken; Walsh; Thompson, Cuthbert, Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd; Beever-Jones
PAR: Chavas; Bogaert, Greboval, Davis, Ould Hocine; Corboz, Korošec, Picard; Le Moguédec, Mateo; Garbino
Category: General Sports
