Page 10 - Women's Soccer Scene No.11 2020-21

Chelsea 6 (Kerr 2,9,48, Kirby 28,34, Reiten 54)
Bristol City 0
at Watford F.C.
Chelsea kept hold of the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup as they proved too
strong for Bristol City with a powerful display at Vicarage Road.
Chelsea strikers Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby were in rampant form with Kerr
hitting a hat-trick and Kirby being involved in all six goals during her time on the pitch,
scoring twice and creating the other four. However, the gloss of Chelsea's victory was
slightly taken off as they lost influential midfielder Maren Mjelde with what looked to be
a serious injury.
In a nightmare start for the Robins, they found themselves a goal down inside
the opening 90 seconds, Fran Kirby chasing down a ball over the top and squaring for Sam
Kerr to roll the ball home from close range.
Guro Reiten headed just wide from a corner but the second goal was not too long
in coming, Kerr combining with Kirby before beating Sophie Baggaley with a left foot
strike from ten yards.
Kirby shot just wide following a cut back from Kerr but the England striker was
to capitalise fully on a mistake just before the half hour. After Baggaley's kick went straight
to her, Kirby returned the ball with interest, clipping the ball over the backpedalling
keeper to make it three.
The Chelsea strike duo were far too hot for the City defence to handle and six
minutes later it was four, Kirby again the tormentor as she took the ball into the area
before beating Gemma Evans and although Baggaley got a foot to her resulting shot, she
could not prevent the ball from going on into the net.
Baggaley made a good save to deny Kirby a third moments later after she had
exchanged passes with Jessie Fleming. City did get their first meaningful shot in during
first half injury time, Ella Mastrantonio firing over after the ball was laid back to her by
Yana Daniels.
Both teams made substitutions at the break and City did have the first effort on
goal, Ebony Salmon's strike flying straight at Ann-Katrin Berger but Chelsea went straight
on the counter attack with Kirby outpacing the defence and sliding across for Kerr to
complete her hat-trick.
Faye Bryson made a great saving challenge to deny Kerr a fourth after yet more
good work by Kirby but another sweeping Chelsea move saw Kerr and Kirby combine for
Reiten to score from close range.
City tried to respond with Salmon making a sweeping run into the area past
Millie Bright and forcing a good save from Berger, who managed to turn her shot over the
bar, whilst at the other end Baggaley needed to make a good block as Kerr latched on to
Kirby's precise through ball.
To their credit, the Robins kept pushing forward in search of a goal, Aimee
Palmer heading straight at Berger who then turned another strike from the lively Salmon
over the bar.
Sadly the game was then held up for a lengthy spell due to Mjelde suffering what
looked to be a serious injury following a challenge from Palmer. The Norwegian was
stretchered off and with all five substitutes used, Chelsea had to finish the game with ten
players.
Issue no. 11 - 1 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk