Report: Bristol City Women 0-5 Chelsea.

Match Report Sponsor: University of the West of England

What happened? 

Chelsea almost got off to the perfect start when Pernille Harder met Samantha Kerr’s pull-back in the box, but her low shot was superbly met by Sophie Baggaley whose trailing leg blocked the opener.

Baggaley pulled off another top save minutes later when Jonna Andersson snuck in at the back post and struck sweetly across goal, but the City ‘keeper got two strong hands on the ball to steer danger clear.

Ebony Salmon had a couple of long range efforts after Chelsea’s early flurry, however Ann Katrin Berger dealt with the chances comfortably.

Chelsea’s free-flowing football earned them a corner 14 minutes in, and the Blues took the lead from the resulting set-piece.

Maren Mjelde’s corner was fizzed towards the near post and met by the Fran Kirby. The England forward’s glanced header found its way through the crowded box and nestled in the far corner to put the visitors ahead.

Harder added a second for the visitors not long before the break when Sophie Ingle’s strong challenge in the box saw the ball fall to the feet of the forward, and the Danish international powered past Baggaley into the roof of the net.

Sophie Baggaley made another good save minutes later which parried into the path of Bethany England, and the forward had the simple task of laying it off to Kirby who found the top corner to get her second and her side's third of the game.

The rain got heavier in the second half but that didn’t impact the Chelsea forwards as they added a fourth 10 minutes after the restart.

Bethany England was the provider once again as she looped a cross into the back post where Sam Kerr rose highest to head down into the bottom corner.

England got her name on the scoresheet when she slid into the box to get onto the end of Mjelde’s low cross and despite Baggaley’s best efforts, the ball trickled into the net.

Salmon had a good chance to pull a goal back for the Robins when she latched onto a Yana Daniels' through ball, however the forwards curling effort from the edge of the box whistled over the bar. 

The rain continued to pour as both sides tired with neither team being able to create any clear-cut chances before the full-time whistle.

Teams:

Bristol City: Baggaley, Evans, Matthews © (Palmer, 52), Pike, Humphrey (Bissell, 74), Salmon, Daniels (Harrison, 74), Wellings, Allen (Bryson, 67), Purfield, Skeels.

Substitutes: Haaland, Rafferty, Collis, Mastrantonio, Jones.

Chelsea: Berger, Bright, Ingle (Spence, 81), England, Ji (Reitan, 69),  Kirby (Cuthbert, 69), Eriksson ©, Mjelde, Kerr, Harder (Fleming, 81), Andersson.

Substitutes: Blundell, Carter, Telford.