Chelsea Secure Champions League Victory with Dominating Performance Over Paris FC
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Chelsea kicked off their Women’s Champions League campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Paris FC at Stamford Bridge, fueled by a stellar performance and a landmark goal from summer signing Alyssa Thompson. The win provides a much-needed boost after a frustrating start to their European challenge, and signals a potential turning point for Sonia Bompastor’s side.
Thompson Marks Debut Season with First Chelsea Goal
It was a memorable evening for the 20-year-old Thompson, who added her name to the scoresheet shortly after the second-half restart. The forward, who arrived from Angel City this summer in a deal worth £1.1m, has quickly become an integral part of Chelsea’s attack. “I’m glad for her because I think she’s been working hard and the fact that she was able to score her first goal is really important for her confidence,” Bompastor stated. The manager also acknowledged that Thompson is still adapting to her new surroundings, noting, “She’s really quick and she has an engine. I think we haven’t seen the best of her yet but hopefully we’ll see that soon. She’s coming from abroad … It’s a new environment. She needs to learn to connect with the players on the pitch.”
Blues Break Deadlock After Frustrating Start
Chelsea had endured a challenging start to their Champions League campaign, with the elusive trophy remaining the only major honor to elude the club. A 1-1 draw against Twente last week highlighted a lack of attacking cohesion, a situation Bompastor addressed with minimal changes to the starting lineup, bringing in Sandy Baltimore and Sjoeke Nüsken. The urgency to score was evident from the outset, but early opportunities were squandered. Nüsken and Erin Cuthbert both tested the goalkeeper from distance, while Aggie Beever-Jones missed two clear chances.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Baltimore converted a penalty in the 30th minute, awarded after a VAR review of a foul in the box. Chelsea consolidated their lead just before halftime, with Thompson’s pace creating space for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd to head home. Thompson then extended the advantage immediately after the break with a close-range finish, and Cuthbert added a fourth, tapping in a Sam Kerr header.
Dominance Displayed Against Underwhelming Paris FC
“I think we were the better team,” Bompastor affirmed. “We created a lot again. We scored really good goals from different players and we could have had more.” Paris FC, who had previously surrendered a 2-0 lead to OH Leuven, struggled to contain Chelsea’s relentless attack. Sandrine Soubeyrand’s side saw the return of goalkeeper Mylène Chavas, along with Maëlle Garbino and Anaële Le Moguédec, but were unable to stem the tide.
The victory was rounded off with a debut appearance for Cobham academy product and England youth international Lexi Potter. This crucial win provides a strong foundation ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming trip to Austria to face St Pölten next month.
