Chelsea beat Roma 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to confirm their place in the next round of the UWCL.
Goals from Wieke Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nüsken, Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze put the game beyond Roma who for their part, are now eliminated from the competition.
Chelsea had welcomed Roma to Stamford Bridge on a chilly December’s night in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday. Sonia Bompastor’s side knew that a point on the night would confirm their progress while all three could put the Blues top of the UWCL table. Chelsea would be without two key players with Nathalie Björn and Erin Cuthbert with both rule out prior to kick off due to injury.
On the positive side, Guro Reiten was fit enough to make the squad for the first time since returning from parental leave. Millie Bright returned to the starting side after watching the past two from the bench. Sam Kerr started up front and Veerle Buurman returned as the left sided centre back for the Blues.
Roma came into this match day second last in the UWCL league phase table. They knew that only victory at Stamford Bridge would keep their slim hopes of making the play off round alive. That was because the side from the Italian capital sat five points behind the side in that all important final play off spot in twelfth, Oud-Heverlee Leuven.
If they could defeat Chelsea they would give themselves a chance, as they face St Polten on the final match day, the only team below them in the table. And rivals Paris FC host FC Barcelona, Vålerenga face Bayern Munich and Oud-Heverlee Leuven face Arsenal.
Despite their poor European form, Le Giallorosse sit top of Serie A and had relatively few injury concerns ahead of their trip to the Bridge. However former Everton defender Katrine Veje would miss out for Luca Rossettini’s side after picking up an injury last month.Olivie Lukášová came into the starting line up for just her second start of the season in goal for Roma.
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The Lineups
CHE: Peng, Bronze, Bright, Buurman, Charles, Walsh, Kaptein, Kaneryd, Baltimore, Macario, Kerr
ROM: Lukášová, Bergamaschgi, Heatley, Oladipo, Thøgersen, Padini, Kühl, Giugliano, Dragoni, Babajide, Pilgrim
The Action
The early sparring saw each side fire at goal from unlikely angles. Sandy Baltimore found the side netting for the home side before Manuela Giugliano’s effort lifted over the crossbar for the visitors. Roma were looking to break at speed and Giugliano almost played Aliyah Pilgrim through on goal within the first few minutes. However Pilgrim’s Swiss team mate cleared the danger thwarting her compatriot. Shortly after Cat Macario stung the palms of Lukášová in the Roma goal, and a clever cut back from Bronze on the rebound eluded the Chelsea strike force.
With twelve minutes on the clock, Chelsea found the breakthrough. An inviting whipped ball from Sandy Baltimore eluded Sam Kerr, but the hapless Valentina Bergamaschi put through her own next. After taking the lead Chelsea honed in on their target and before long it was 2-0. A long ball into the box was met by the head of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who cushioned the ball beautifully into the path of Wieke Kaptein who made no mistake from close range.
Chelsea came close to a third just after the thirty minute mark. A lovely whipped ball into the box from Macario found Kerr whose header was lifted over the bar. Chelsea were purring, and just as the match crept towards half time they made it three. After Niamh Charles had done brilliantly to find a way in behind the Roma defence she played the ball across the box. Bouncing the ball took a few touches on its way but found the feet of Kaneryd and at the back post the Swede blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
Shortly after half time Chelsea were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Sjoeke Nüsken who had only come on minutes earlier had been clearly fouled by Marta Bandini. Nüsken herself stood up to the spot and with a feint fired past the Roma goalkeeper. Sam Kerr broke free shortly after but was unable to finish with Lukášová outstretched in the Roma goal making the save.
With just over ten minutes to play Millie Bright played a brilliant long ball to find Guro Reiten who had stolen in behind. Reiten controlled the ball and teed up the onrushing Maika Hamano who found the corner with inch perfect accuracy. With just minutes to play Lucy Bronze cut inside and chipped the ball over the head of the Roma goalkeeper with majestic accuracy, 6-0 to Chelsea. Roma almost had a consolation goal through Winonah Heatley as the Australian struck from point blank range but Livia Peng was quick to react and make the save.
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Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Livia Peng – 7.5/10 – Made more than a few excellent judgement calls to come off her line when Roma attempted the ball in behind in the early minutes. Had precious little to do once the scoring started but made a smart save to save her clean sheet late on.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 8/10 – Showed enterprise and willing right from minute one as ever, a vital member of this team. Scored an utterly sensational sixth for Chelsea.
RCB: Millie Bright – 8/10 – Was alert to repeated attempts from the opposition captain Giugliano to play the ball in behind. Long range passing was uncharacteristically off in the first half, before returning to its usual majesty in the second, ball over the top for Reiten for the fifth goal was exceptional.
LCB: Veerle Buurman – 8/10 – Grew into the match as time wore on, still young but it is clear that her manager has a huge amount of faith in her.
LB: Niamh Charles – 9/10 – Had marshalled her former Liverpool team mate Rinsola Babajide extremely well in the first half. She also combined well with Baltimore, Kaptein and Buurman on the left side. Got in behind for Chelsea’s third goal with a wonderful turn of pace. Made four key passes, a match leading total.
DM: Keira Walsh– 8/10 – Made some good early line breaking passes, pressed high to good effect at times. Read and intercepted a number of passes in midfield to great effect.
CAM: Wieke Kaptein – 8.5/10 – Kaptein doubled Chelsea’s lead with a brilliant box crashing run and a nonchalant finish. Made more great box crashing runs throughout the evening.
CAM: Caterina Macario – 7.5/10 – Her touch betrayed her a couple of times in the early minutes. Played a couple of beautiful passes on the edge of the box and created some great opportunities for her side.
LW: Sandy Baltimore – 8/10 – Her excellent cross for Chelsea’s opener was so good even Bergamaschi couldn’t resist it. Demonstrated excellent moments of close control to beat her defender more than once, made two successful dribbles from two attempts, the best return of any player.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 8/10 – Was slow to make key decisions with the ball at her feet in the box more than once in the first twenty minutes. She more than atoned for her initial profligacy with an inch perfect cushioned header to set up Chelsea’s second goal before finding the net herself shortly after.
ST: Sam Kerr – 5.5/10 – Still missing her trade mark cutting edge, laid off Kaptein for a good chance in the first half. Kerr missed three big chances in this one. Shared a laugh with her manager after coming off.
SUBS
Lexi Potter – (46′ Walsh) – 7.5/10 – Potter almost found the net with a cracking strike from outside the box, which was extremely well saved. Demonstrated excellent strength in midfield. Showed some confident touches on the ball, an impressive
Maika Hamano – (46′ Baltimore) – 7.5/10 – Took her goal with exceptional ease finding the bottom corner to make the game completely safe.
Sjoeke Nüsken – (46′ Macario) – 9/10 – Made an instant impact, coming off the bench to win a penalty and score it. Not long after she picked Bergamaschi’s pocket on the edge of the box and played through Kerr who was unable to find the net, set up Potter shortly after. Everywhere in the second 45.
Oriane Jean-François – (61′ Kaneryd) – 6/10 – Had a quiet half after coming on but the match was won at that point.
Guro Reiten (70′ Kerr) – 7/10 – Demonstrated magnificent awareness to set up Hamano for Chelsea’s fifth.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Sjoeke Nüsken
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