LONDON, 10 DECEMBER – Chelsea defeated Roma 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in their fifth UWCL campaign of the season on Wednesday, as Wieke Kaptein slotted the ball in to give Chelsea a two-goal headstart.
Kaptein added to the scoresheet with a clean finish into the bottom left corner in the 26th minute after a header from Swedish midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, scoring her second goal of the campaign.
“For the confidence [different goalscorers] is crucial, it changes the game.” Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor said. “You kill the game and kill the opposition.”
“I think we had a really good reaction tonight, good confidence, good result,” said Bompastor.
German midfielder Sjoeke Nusken nestled the ball past Roma goalkeeper Olivie Lukásšová in the 51st minute following a foul from Roma’s Marta Pandini.
Later in the 77th minute, 2025 Asian International Women’s Player of the Year Maika Hamano netted a powerful goal to add her name to the scoresheet.
Luca Rossettini, who began as AS Roma’s head coach this July, was unhappy with the decision for a penalty.
“It did seem to me, from what I can see, [the] Chelsea player just touched it just before our team, who came in with a high knee,” said Rossettini. “I do think there was a bad tackle from Millie Bright which I thought the referee just ignored.”
After English defender Niamh Charles weaved round Roma’s defence, she crossed to Kaneryd, who hit the ball into the top of the net to put the Blues further ahead in the 44th minute, just before the half-time whistle.
Chelsea dominated the defence, with 61% possession and a 58% won tackle rate.
“I think it’s the best way to bounce back [after a domestic loss], we can put things right straight away,” said Charles. “It was a full team performance, and exactly what we expected of ourselves.”
Lioness Lucy Bronze curled a ball behind Lukásšová into the top left corner in the 86th minute to solidify the win for the home team.
Roma’s second top goalscorer for this UWCL campaign, Valentina Bergamaschi, scored an unfortunate own goal for the Blues in the 13th minute, following a powerful cross from french forward Sandy Baltimore.
“I think we have a really, really good squad,” said goalscorer Kaptein. “I’ve tried to be involved in more assists and goals, help the team. I was really happy to get that goal today.”
A win for the Blues sees them move to fourth in the UWCL campaign, guaranteeing them a place in the qualifiers, and ready to face Brighton and Hove Albion in a WSL away game on Sunday.
