**Substitute Melvine Mallard scored twice on her debut as Chelsea Women thrashed Real Sociedad 5-2 to take a commanding lead into the second leg of the third qualifying round Champions League tie with Real Sociedad.**
The Blues trailed early on to Ainhoa Marín’s stunning strike, but captain Naomi Girma headed in a Katie McCabe corner to level by half-time and Veerle Buurman then headed home a Lauren James cross to put the hosts ahead.
And after a fine Cecilia Marcos strike made it 2-2, Chelsea then romped to victory.
Mallard scored a delightful third home goal, rounding the keeper and slotting home after a slick move and James tapped in number four from close range after great work by Ellie Carpenter down the right.
Carpenter’s work was not yet done, the Australian setting her second goal of the night, this time for Mallard, whose confident low finish secured a three-goal lead going into the second leg in Spain on 2 September.
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