By Daily Sports on November 10, 2021

Chelsea delivered the "relentless" performance manager Emma Hayes asked for as they saw off Swiss champions Servette in emphatic style in Women's Champions League Group A.

Australian forward Sam Kerr and England striker Fran Kirby bagged two goals and two assists each.

Melanie Leupolz, Jessie Fleming and Guro Reiten also got on the scoresheet.

Victory takes Chelsea - last season's runners-up - top of their group for at least a few hours as Wolfsburg play Juventus in the other match at 20:00 GMT.

Hayes made seven changes to the Chelsea side who won 1-0 at Aston Villa in the Women's Super League on Sunday, with returns for Kerr and Kirby, and the strike duo enjoyed themselves in Switzerland.

It was Kerr's flick that set up Kirby's opener and the England international returned the favour, lifting it into the Australian's path a short while later, for what was her second goal in two minutes.

Leupolz had kicked things off with a wonderful left-footed strike before Kerr and Kirby's doubles. Fleming then beat the goalkeeper at her near post with a thumping effort, before Reiten slotted home a seventh Chelsea goal.

Chelsea have won two of their three group games so far in the competition and are in impressive form heading into Sunday's Women's Super League match with rivals Manchester City (15:00 GMT).

Hayes said afterwards the victory "wasn't easy" and her side "worked their socks off" to win so convincingly.

"The details in the pass, the movement, the finishes and execution in the actions... It could have been 7-0 at half-time. We missed chances!" she added.

"Credit to the players. They decided they wanted to go up a level. It is my job to put the challenge to them. I thought we were outstanding."

'Special' Mjelde's 'emotional' return

It was not only the victory which pleased Hayes.

There was also a return for Norwegian international Maren Mjelde, coming back from injury for the first time since the League Cup final on 14 March to make a substitute appearance.

"To get Maren Mjelde on... She is a special person in our environment. It was emotional for her," said Hayes.

"She is a Rolls Royce of a footballer. When she came on there was composure and I told Jess Carter to watch her, look at her decision-making. She is a superb football player and we're delighted she is back."

Player of the match Kerr added: "It's a special night. This is my first time coming here and it was very special. It will be a night most of us won't forget for many reasons. It was a good performance, good crowd and Maren is back.

"It's nice as a player to walk off the pitch knowing you did everything possible to win the game and tonight we can do that. There's only positives we can take from it and hopefully we can take that into the weekend." (BBC)

•PHOTO: Chelsea ladies celebrate 

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 10, 2021

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