Chelsea vs Paris FC LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as Sam Kerr leads Blues to big win
Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC: Sam Kerr’s heroics get the Blues bck to winning ways in the Champions League
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea secured their first victory of this season’s Women’s Champions League in an emphatic win over Paris FC at Stamford Bridge. Needing a positive result after being held to a draw against Real Madrid last time out, the Blues took the lead through Sam Kerr on the half hour mark. Chelsea’s captain for the night poking home Lauren James’ threaded pass into the box.
Eight minutes later Paris responded. Thea Graboval leaping into the air from a corner to float the ball over Ann-Katrin Berger and send the visitors into the break on level terms.
Berger made up for that goal by denying Mathilde Bourdieu early in the second half before Kerr poked the Blues ahead two minutes later. She completed her hat-trick by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and opening up a comfortable lead for the hosts.
There was more to come though as Sophie Ingle came off the bench, met a corner ball with a volley in stoppage time and slotted her effort into the far bottom corner. Chelsea remain second in the group but they’re back to winning ways in Europe.
Relive the Women’s Champions League action below:
Hat-trick hero Sam Kerr leads from the front as Chelsea emphatically beat Paris in Champions League
Chelsea eased to a comfortable 4-1 win against Paris FC as Sam Kerr’s hat-trick helped them to a first women’s Champions League victory of the season.
The result had looked in doubt at half-time after the visitors had stunned Emma Hayes’ side with an equaliser from defender Thea Greboval’s header, wiping out the lead given to last year’s semi-finalists when Kerr turned in Lauren James’ cross.
But two goals early in the second period settled Chelsea nerves and ensured there would be no upset from the tournament debutants at Stamford Bridge. Kerr grabbed her second and third in the space of seven minutes before substitute Sophie Ingle capped the night off in stoppage time to ensure three points after last week’s controversial draw away to Real Madrid.
Hat-trick hero Sam Kerr leads from the front as Chelsea emphatically beat Paris
Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC: Kerr’s three goals ensured the Blues won their first European game of the season
FT Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle on DAZN: “That is what is great about our team: when someone drops out someone is ready to come in. Millie [Bright] is a big loss though.
“Training is tough every single but that is why people are ready to come in. You’re playing against top players every day.
“I don’t score many goals but it is great to score from a set piece on this European night.”
FT Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
Reaction from Chelsea boss Emma Hayes who said: “First of all, you know how hard it is to play back-to-back-to-back. I didn’t think we looked super fresh. I felt like we lacked a player closer to Sam Kerr in the first half so I brought on Fran Kirby and I felt that worked really well. Fran’s little bit of quality gave us what we needed.
“I thought we looked leggy generally. It was a quiet changing room at half-time. Credit to my team, they dug in despite us looking sloppy at times. They are a good team, don’t take anything away from them. To score four goals, and dig in, that is why I was impressed with my team.
“I didn’t feel concerned. I just knew at half-time if I could adjust a few things and get some control in the central pocket, I always feel like there’s goals in us. It was just a night where we needed to dig a little bit deep.
“I felt like we needed Sophie Ingle’s experience in the second half. She came in and calmed the game down for us. That is what she brings but I am also developing players at the same time. We’ve got another game in three days and Sophie will play.”
FT Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
Chelsea are still without a defeat after their opening seven Women’s Super League games they’ve added two unbeaten matches in the Champions League too.
That’s nine games unbeaten in all competitions for Emma Hayes’s side to kick off their season. What a start.
FT Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr speaking on DAZN: “The first half was difficult. They are a hard team to break down. Once we cleaned up our passes and upped our level a little bit we helped ourselves out. They are a tough team to break down.
“It is difficult. It is just part of my game, the number nine in most teams needs to stay switched on and be ready. When I’m not at my full fitness it is difficult but it is OK.
“Fran [Kirby] has had an amazing career and we know what she’s done for Chelsea. She added a different spark tonight.
“I felt like I was lucky with my first touch for my hat-trick goal but then I saw her back-pedalling so I thought I’d try the lob. I don’t mind those ones to be honest!
“I am getting really close to 100%. I just need more consistency, more training and more games. This last block has been difficult because you don’t train that often. I am pretty close but I’m not quite there yet.
“I asked what score the Hacken-Madrid game was when I came off!”
FT Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
What that victory means is that Chelsea remain second in Group D but open up a three point lead over Real Madrid who lost to Hacken tonight.
Hacken are still at the top of the table and will take on Emma Hayes’ side next in what should be a barnstorming contest. Those two fixtures could determine which team finishes top of the group.
Full-time! Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC
90+5 mins: Chelsea get their win.
After the disappointment of drawing with Real Madrid last week, Emma Hayes’ side were determined to set their Women’s Champions League campaign going under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
A well fought first half saw the teams evenly matched with Thea Graboval cancelling out Sam Kerr’s opener to send the teams into the break on level terms.
After Paris failed to take the lead early in the second half, Chelsea stepped on the gas. Kerr added two more goal in quick successive to open up a cushion and from there the Blues were never in danger.
Sophie Ingle came off the bench to add a fourth in injury time but the most important thing is Chelsea pick up all three points.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Paris FC (Ingle, 90+1’)⚽️
90+1 mins: Chelsea secure the points!
In the first of five stoppage time minutes, the Blues win a corner and swing the ball into the middle of the box. Sophie Ingle breaks away from her marker, meets the ball on the volley and turns it into the far bottom corner!
Chelsea 3-1 Paris FC
89 mins: Chance! Louise Fleury goes on a brilliant run through the inside left channel before bringing the ball to the front edge of the box and taking a shot before she’s closed down.
She hits it quite well but sends the effort into the hands of Ann-Katrin Berger.
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