It was women against girls as last season's European finalists Chelsea found themselves 5-0 up after half an hour, away to Servette of Switzerland.
The goals flew in as the Blues’ neat passing, cool finishing and superior fitness crushed their opponents, with Servette folding like napkins.
Mel Leupolz fired the first after eight minutes, Fran Kirby added a second on 16 and four minutes later Sam Kerr had netted a third and a fourth. Kirby got her second on 27 minutes and Jessie Fleming fired in the sixth before the interval, from a tight angle.
The tidal wave ended after Guro Reiten added a seventh after the restart, when a series of substitutions took the sting out of Chelsea’s threat, while allowing manager Emma Hayes to give valuable game time to others in the squad.
Jorja Fox got her first Champions League experience, but the biggest cheer was reserved for the return of Maren Mjelde in the 66th minute, back after eight months rehab and recovery following a potentially career-ending knee injury in the final of last season’s Conti Cup.
Mjelde, who turned 32 this week, took over from Jess Carter at the centre of a defensive back three… though, frankly, with the attacking threat that the Swiss top-tier side posed, two at the back would have been adequate.
It was an emotionally charged return, with Hayes describing her as a “Rolls-Royce of a footballer” who will, she hopes, make the difference in Carter’s own development in the years to come.
“Jess Carter is a young player, and she can learn a lot from the likes of Maren. On the pitch, Maren is one of the most underestimated players in the world,” said Hayes.
Hayes was delighted to be able to rest key players in the second half, including Magda Eriksson, her influential captain, ahead of the weekend’s WSL clash with Man City. To fully prepare, the squad hopped on a plane straight after the game in Geneva and returned to London. The stats are likely to be tighter at the Academy Stadium in Manchester on Sunday afternoon.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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