Membership-record signing Alyssa Thompson opened her Chelsea account in a 4-0 thrashing of Paris FC as Sonia Bompastor’s facet claimed their first Champions League win of the season.
Thompson, signed from NWSL’s Angel Metropolis for round £1m on Deadline Day, was one of many vivid sparks for Chelsea as they responded to a disappointing draw at FC Twente of their opener with a dominant efficiency at Stamford Bridge.
The 20-year-old USA worldwide arrange Chelsea’s second with a cross for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s looping header and scored the third with a tap-in on the again submit to get off the mark for her new membership together with her first Champions League purpose.
Sandy Baltimore had opened the scoring from the penalty spot after half an hour due to the intervention of VAR which really useful an on-field assessment after Sjoeke Nusken’s foot was trodden on contained in the field.
Chelsea had struggled in entrance of purpose as much as that time, with Aggie Beever-Jones twice snatching on the ball within the field, however they relaxed after the primary went in and Rytting Kaneryd’s header doubled their lead six minutes earlier than the break.
Thompson’s purpose got here 90 seconds after the restart as she poked in on the again submit from Keira Walsh’s cross to successfully put the sport out of attain for the French facet.
Chelsea scored a scrappy fourth by means of Erin Cuthbert after a horrible misjudgement from Paris FC goalkeeper Mylene Chavas at a nook led to a goalmouth scramble.
There was some confusion when substitute Sam Kerr was initially awarded the fourth, however replays confirmed her effort had been cleared off the road earlier than the ball finally went in off Cuthbert.
Chelsea shrugged off the setback of their opening-game draw and delivered a powerful win that strikes them as much as fourth within the Champions League standings.
Brilliant: We have our mojo again
Chelsea captain Millie Brilliant talking to ESPN:
“In the Champions League, you need to hit the ground running. Our first game, we definitely weren’t happy with the performance or result. I think for us and our standards and our ambitions, it needs to be better.
“However we had a superb bounce again towards Tottenham. Early on within the season, it is about getting factors and simply getting that momentum just a little bit and discovering our rhythm. However I feel tonight we positively obtained our mojo again.
“The whole game was good but especially that last 20 minutes. The one-touch play and connections all-round. It was a really good way to end the block [of games] and send the girls off on international duty.”
Paris FC confronted ‘top-of-the-line’ at Stamford Bridge
Paris FC’s Daphne Corboz talking to ESPN:
“Today we faced a really good team. They are one of the best teams, and they are playing for the title. So it was obviously difficult. They made us run a lot.
“The issue is that while you work so arduous defensively, it is actually arduous to be accessible on the ball. That is one thing we have to work on. Hopefully, we will enhance for the remainder of the season.”