Sam Kerr scored a brilliant hat-trick to fire Chelsea past Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League group stage at Stamford Bridge.
Kerr was teed up by Lauren James’ superb pass in the first half before poking in Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross after the break.
She completed her hat-trick with an audacious looping chip from outside the box in the 55th minute, while substitute Sophie Ingle added a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Paris created several dangerous chances and had levelled after 38 minutes through Thea Greboval’s header.
Chelsea’s sloppiness in possession appeared to frustrate manager Hayes, particularly in the first half, but the hosts improved as the match wore on and were boosted by the introduction of substitute Fran Kirby.
The England forward was heavily involved in the build-up to Kerr’s second goal and played a superb through ball later on which the Australian striker dragged uncharacteristically wide.
Paris duo Mathilde Bourdieu and Julie Dufour were denied by smart saves from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, while substitute Louise Fleury squandered a second-half chance as Chelsea were made to work hard for their victory.
The win leaves Chelsea two points behind Group D leaders BK Hacken, who beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Thursday’s earlier match, and Hayes is “confident” they will progress.
“We had three games in six days and I think tonight was the fallout of that,” she said. “We looked really leggy in the first half. It’s something to be mindful of.
“I still think we have the qualities to progress from the group and that’s our aim.”
Chelsea made to work but Kerr delivers again
Having drawn their opening match, Chelsea knew winning at home would be crucial to their bid to secure a top-two spot in the group and progress to the knockout stages.
They performed superbly at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, thumping Liverpool 5-1 in the Women’s Super League with a hat-trick from James.
But the Blues did not start with the same fluidity on Thursday against a well-organised, high-pressing Paris side.
The visitors – debutants in the group stages – had already shown their pedigree with victories over Arsenal and last season’s runners-up Wolfsburg in the qualifying rounds.
And they had the game’s first chance, gifted to Mathilde Bourdieu after Chelsea had given the ball away inside their own half, but the striker’s effort was straight at Berger.
“Maybe we lacked a little bit of efficiency and a clinical nature in front of goal,” said Paris boss Sandrine Soubeyrand.
“I wanted my players to come here and give a good account of ourselves. I think we did give a good account of ourselves. We created some chances.
“We maybe could have done better on one of the goals defensively but we go away from here with no regrets. I’m proud of the players.”
An unmarked James had a glorious opportunity to put Chelsea ahead against the run of play shortly after Bourdieu’s miss, but she skied her effort over the bar – causing Hayes to throw her arms in the air in frustration.
The England forward, who was scintillatingly good against Liverpool, made up for that miss 10 minutes later when her curling pass picked out Kerr for the opener.
But Greboval’s looping header, which beat both Berger and defender Jess Carter on the goalline, meant Chelsea had work to do when they returned for the second half.
Hayes wasted no time in bringing on Kirby and she delivered for her USA-bound manager, splitting open Paris’ stubborn defence with some excellent passing and using her movement to find spaces in the middle.
The ever-dependable Kerr was on Kirby’s wavelength and put away her chances to seal the win, before Ingle’s well-taken strike from a corner capped the win.
It was a comfortable result in the end for Chelsea but there were moments of concern which they will need to rectify if they are to deliver this trophy for Hayes – the only one she is yet to win with the club – before she leaves to take over the USA women’s team in May.
Line-ups
Chelsea Women
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 30Berger
- 12Lawrence
- 26BuchananBooked at 29mins Substituted forMjeldeat 83′minutes
- 7Carter
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 6Nüsken Substituted forIngleat 59′minutes
- 22Cuthbert
- 21Charles
- 17Fleming Substituted forKirbyat 45′minutes
- 10James Substituted forPérissetat 75′minutes
- 20Kerr Substituted forFishelat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 2Fishel
- 3Nouwen
- 5Ingle
- 14Kirby
- 15Périsset
- 18Mjelde
- 24Hampton
- 33Beever-Jones
Paris FC Féminines
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Nnadozie
- 27Soyer
- 23Sissoko Substituted forHocineat 82′minutes
- 19Greboval
- 3Bogaert Substituted forAbdullinaat 70′minutes
- 8Corboz
- 4Korosec Substituted forLe Mouëlat 61′minutes
- 10Matéo
- 17Thiney
- 11Dufour Substituted forBussyat 82′minutes
- 9Bourdieu Substituted forFleuryat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Marques
- 2Hocine
- 5Hunter
- 7Fleury
- 15Le Mouël
- 18N’Dongala
- 20Ribadeira
- 21Abdullina
- 22Bussy
- 30Flagellat
Match Stats
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Chelsea Women 4, Paris FC Féminines 1.
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