Kirby hits a treble in rout of Fiorentina

In Chelsea’s most complete and comprehensive performance of the season, Emma Hayes’s side coasted to their second Women’s Champions League quarter-final.

The ease with which they unpicked Fiorentina, who are fourth in the Serie A, veered from the sublime to the ridiculous. It was hard to believe this was a Chelsea side that have failed to find the net five times in the league this season.

Their second goal was gorgeous; the jinking run of Karen Carney sliced out a smattering of defenders before she laid off for Fran Kirby to slot the ball beneath the legs of goalkeeper Stephanie Ohrstrom. Their fourth was simply showing off; Kirby’s flick landing at the feet of Erin Cuthbert to drill into the top corner of the net.

Drew Spence had already opened the scoring on 24 minutes, letting rip from outside the area with a ferocious shot that nestled in the top corner. Kirby’s penalty made it 3-0 after Ramona Bachmann was fouled in the area by Davina Philtjens. It began to feel almost cruel on the Italians by the time Kirby broke on a lengthy solo run, legs whirring as she hungrily devoured the yards before slotting in her hat-trick.

Bachmann added a neat finish for the sixth, and the only stain on Chelsea’s copybook, following 180 minutes of dominance, was a red card for last defender Millie Bright when she felled Lana Clelland 10 minutes from time.

Fiorentina Chelsea