Chelsea Thrashes Roma 6-0 to Edge Closer to UWCL Quarterfinals

Chelsea secured a commanding 6-0 victory over Roma at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, moving one step closer to securing a place in the quarterfinals. The emphatic win comes after Chelsea faced setbacks in previous matches against FC Twente and Barcelona, making this victory crucial for maintaining control over their fate in the tournament.

The match not only provided a much-needed triumph but also marked Chelsea’s first outing since their unexpected defeat to Everton, which ended their impressive 34-match unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League. From the outset, the team demonstrated their intent, taking an early lead thanks to an own goal by Roma defender Valentina Bergamaschi. A cross from Sandy Baltimore was misjudged, resulting in Bergamaschi heading the ball past her own goalkeeper.

By the 30-minute mark, Chelsea had doubled their advantage. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd skillfully nodded down a high ball into the path of Wieke Kaptein, who finished neatly into the bottom corner. The home side continued to dominate, effectively sealing the match before the half-time whistle. Niamh Charles made a powerful run to the byline, and although Roma goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova got a hand to the ball, Rytting Kaneryd was there to capitalize on the rebound, hammering it home for Chelsea’s third goal.

The second half saw Chelsea maintain their momentum. A foul by Marta Pandini on Sjoeke Nüsken resulted in a penalty. Nüsken then took responsibility, converting the penalty to extend Chelsea’s lead to four goals.

As the match approached its conclusion, Guro Reiten assisted Maika Hamano, who tapped in the fifth goal with just 13 minutes remaining. The scoring culminated in the 86th minute when Lucy Bronze executed a clever nutmeg on her defender, delivering a precise cross that sailed over the head of the goalkeeper and into the net.

With this significant victory, Chelsea not only eliminated Roma from the tournament but also positioned themselves strongly for the final group stage match. The team now requires just one more win to secure direct progression to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Champions League.