Club-record signing Alyssa Thompson opened her Chelsea account in a 4-0 thrashing of Paris FC as Sonia Bompastor’s side claimed their first Champions League win of the season.
Thompson, signed from NWSL’s Angel City for around £1m on Deadline Day, was one of the bright sparks for Chelsea as they responded to a disappointing draw at FC Twente in their opener with a dominant performance at Stamford Bridge.
The 20-year-old USA international set up Chelsea’s second with a cross for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s looping header and scored the third at the back post to get off the mark for her new club and in the Champions League.
Erin Cuthbert wrapped up the scoring for Chelsea
Sandy Baltimore had opened the scoring from the penalty spot after half an hour thanks to the intervention of VAR which recommended an on-field review after Sjoeke Nusken’s foot was trodden on inside the box.
Baltimore opened the scoring for Chelsea from the penalty spot
Chelsea had struggled in front of goal up to that point, with Aggie Beever-Jones twice snatching at the ball in the box, but they relaxed after the first went in and Rytting Kaneryd’s header doubled their lead six minutes before the break.
Thompson’s goal came 90 seconds after the restart as she poked in at the back post from Keira Walsh’s cross to effectively put the game out of reach for the French side.
Chelsea scored a scrappy fourth through Erin Cuthbert after a horrible misjudgement from Paris FC goalkeeper Mylene Chavas at a corner led to a goalmouth scramble.
There was some confusion when substitute Sam Kerr was initially awarded the fourth, but replays showed her effort had been cleared off the line before the ball eventually went in off Cuthbert.
Chelsea shrugged off the setback of their opening-game draw and delivered a resounding win that moves them up to fourth in the Champions League standings.
