A dominant performance from Chelsea was rewarded with four goals and a clean sheet as the Blues recorded an impressive victory over Paris FC at Stamford Bridge in the Women's Champions League.
Following a handful of half-chances in opening exchanges, we were awarded a penalty for a foul on Sjoeke Nusken after half an hour. Sandy Baltimore once again demonstrated her steely resolve to put us in front, after having scored the crucial equaliser from the penalty spot against FC Twente last week.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored a rare headed goal soon after to double our lead and net for the first time for the Blues in the Women's Champions League.
Another first followed early into the second period as summer signing Alyssa Thompson, who was a constant thorn in the French side's defence, got off the mark in Blue with an instinctive strike at the back post after a ball across goal by Keira Walsh.
Our fourth and final goal of the night came after a Sam Kerr header and a goalmouth scramble that eventually ended with Erin Cuthbert forcing a shot into the net.
Changes made
Two changes were made by head coach Sonia Bompastor to the side that began our victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Nusken and Baltimore came into the side in place of Ellie Carpenter and Niamh Charles.
The Blues started brightly and Nusken went close after just five minutes with a shot that flashed narrowly wide of the post.
Aggie Beever-Jones, who scored during our last outing at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City, caused a threat in the early stages.
The England international had three sights of goal, the best of which came via an excellent pass from Cuthbert. Beever-Jones was, however, denied by an excellent recovery challenge.
Two in quick succession
The Blues were in full control and, as the game ticked towards the half-hour mark, Nusken was brought in the box after a collision with Anaele le Moguedec. After a lengthy VAR review, we were awarded a penalty. Baltimore, as has become the norm, stepped up to convert with confidence.
Paris tried to hit back immediately and a rare break forward saw the visitors reach the edge of the Chelsea penalty area. But skipper Millie Bright was on hand to make the crucial interception.
There was no intent from Bompastor’s side to sit back on our one-goal advantage – and that initiative was rewarded with a second goal before the half-time interval.
Thompson, who terrorised the French side’s defence throughout with her pace, was the creator as she burst to the byline, cut back inside to deliver a cross in the direction of Rytting Kaneryd, and she did excellently to guide a header into the net.
Another big chance was fashioned, this time for Beever-Jones. Unfortunately, the forward’s effort rattled the crossbar and we had to settle for a comfortable two-goal lead at the interval.
Rapid restart
There were no changes at the interval, both in terms of personnel and attitude. And just two minutes after the restart, a third Chelsea goal was scored.
Patient possession play on the edge of the Paris penalty area eventually led to the ball being fed to Walsh, who clipped a low, flat cross toward the back post and Thompson reacted quickest to stab home her first Blues goal.
That killed off any hope Paris had of a fightback, and it enabled Bomapstor to make alterations as the second period progressed. A triple change before the hour as Maika Hamano, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr were introduced for goalscorers Thompson and Rytting Kaneryd and Beever-Jones.
Soon afterward came Lucy Bronze, continuing her return from injury after a short cameo at the weekend. She replaced Wieke Kaptein.
The substitutions didn’t knock the Blues out of our flow and a fourth goal was soon added. Baltimore delivered a corner to the far post, which was met by Kerr. The striker's header appeared to be scrambled off the line, but Cuthbert then forced the ball into the net.
Bompastor's final change was a notable one as Lexi Potter, who joined the Blues at the age of eight, was brought on in place of Baltimore for her Chelsea debut.
We continued to carry a threat when we advanced in the Paris defensive third and Reiten was inches away from a fifth as she broke into the box and saw a shot deflected onto the crossbar. It proved to be our final genuine chance of the evening.
And while the plaudits understandably have gone to the goalscorers, testament to the work put in across the pitch was that Paris ended the game without having registered a single shot on target across the 90 minutes.
What it means
Chelsea have collected four points in our opening two Champions League matches, which sees us sit fourth in the league phase table.
What comes next
There will now be a pause for the international break, before we return to Stamford Bridge to take on London City Lionesses on 1 November at 2pm.
The teams
Chelsea: Hampton, Bjorn, Bright (c), Nusken, Thompson (Reiten 56), Walsh, Cuthbert, Baltimore (Potter 73), Rytting Kaneryd (Hamano 56), Kaptein (Bronze 60), Beever-Jones (Kerr 56)
Unused subs: Peng, Bronze, Buurman, Charles, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Macario,
Scorers: Baltimore 31 (pen), Rytting Kaneryd 39, Thompson 47, Cuthbert 63
Paris: Chavas, Bogaert, Greboval, Davis, Ould Hocine (Liaigre 68), Corboz, Korosec, Picard (Yerro 88), Le Moguedec (N'Dongala 45), Mateo (c) (Azzaro 75), Garbino (Jedlinska 68)
Unused subs: Marques, Scott, Haheim, Sissoko, Mendonca
Referee: Michalina Diakow