Carney’s penalty gives Chelsea the edge over Italians
Karen Carney’s penalty ensures Chelsea, the last English side in the Women’s Champions League, will defend a lead in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Fiorentina in a fortnight’s time.
It was, given the context, a surprisingly dominant home performance. Chelsea have stuttered and stumbled in the Women’s Super League so far this season, with very few echoes of the all-conquering side that marched to a league and FA Cup double last season and reached the semi-finals of this competition before losing to Wolfsburg.
Head coach Emma Hayes insisted she would “easily” pick her side up following their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday, and Chelsea, who have failed to find the net in the league four times this season, were so relaxed in the warm-up that substitute Drew Spence was blowing bubbles with chewing gum while lip-synching to Justin Timberlake.
“I’m a mother – it’s really easy for me to pick them up,” said Hayes. “I just show my maternal side and remind them that it’s really not that grim. That is the reality. Focus on process.”
Hayes’ measured approach paid dividends, and Chelsea looked unruffled under the floodlights. Fiorentina, the reigning Italian Super Cup winners, found themselves smothered after Chelsea thwarted the Italians in the opening exchanges.
The sides were equal in physicality and intricacy until Carney’s goal saw the momentum swing in the host’s favour. Midfielder Stephanie Breitner had used her forearm to swat away Erin Cuthbert’s shot, and Carney decisively drove a low penalty to goalkeeper Stephanie Ohrstrom’s right.
From then on, Chelsea set the tone, spinning and shuffling as they coolly unpicked their opponents. Fran Kirby flicked Bethany England’s incisive cross narrowly over the bar in the first half before Ali Riley, in her first Blues start, laid off for the dangerous Ramona Bachmann to fire into the stands.
Captain Carney demonstrated boundless energy to diligently screen Chelsea’s backline, and almost turned provider when her pinpoint free-kick was directed over the bar by Millie Bright.
Chelsea allied sheer obduracy to their technical flair, and Bright’s game-saving challenge kept her side’s lead intact as she smuggled the ball from Ilaria Mauro’s feet to halt the one-on-one.
Chelsea
Fiorentina Booked Referee