Chelsea Women secured a 5-2 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Champions League qualification tie on Tuesday, with Ellie Carpenter playing a key role through two assists. The Blues went into halftime level after Ainhoa Marin's opener was cancelled out by Naomi Girma, but a second-half surge saw Veerle Buurman head them ahead before Malard scored twice on her debut and Lauren James added a late fifth.
How did Chelsea Women respond after a slow start?
Carpenter admitted the team were rusty in the opening 45 minutes against a strong Sociedad side, saying they had to fix things up after the break. She praised the collective effort that followed, noting the side played with strength and confidence in the second half to turn the game around. The full-back highlighted the importance of the win as a test for a squad not yet used to such high-pressure games early in the season.
What did Ellie Carpenter say about the performance?
The Australia international stated: "It is quite hard going straight into such a big, important game. Some of us are not really used to that." She added: "We came out in the second half and really gave it to them, playing with strength and confidence as well." Carpenter’s two assists were vital in unlocking the Sociedad defence after the interval.
Who stood out for Chelsea Women in the win?
Malard made an immediate impact off the bench with two goals on her debut, while James capped the scoring with a late finish. Buurman’s header restored the lead after Sociedad had equalised, and Girma’s early goal showed her threat from set-pieces. Carpenter’s vision from right created multiple chances, underlining her growing influence in Emma Hayes’ system.
What does this mean for Chelsea Women’s UWCL campaign?
The victory gives Chelsea Women a strong advantage ahead of the second leg, with the away goals rule no longer applying in UEFA competitions. The team will look to build on this performance as they continue their WSL campaign, with upcoming fixtures available on our fixtures page. Fans can also follow player developments via the squad and stats sections for deeper insight.
Chelsea Women will face Real Sociedad again in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying tie on Tuesday, 24 September 2024.
