This Roma side was far more resilient than the one we defeated 6-0 less than 12 months ago at Stamford Bridge. They were defensively sound as we dominated the first half but were unable to find the back of the net.

Our visitors failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, but considering the outcome of last season's meeting, they would undoubtedly have been pleased with the score at the interval.

However, their good work was undone just six minutes after the break, when half-time substitute Carpenter drove forward with purpose and, after playing a one-two with Wieke Kaptein, slotted home from close range.

We created further chances to extend our advantage but struggled to hit the target with our attempts. Yet just as it appeared our margin of victory would be slender, defender Kadeisha Buchanan steered a header home from a Kaptein corner to round off another professional European performance from the Blues.

Changes made

Sonia Bompastor rotated her side with Sunday's match away at Charlton Athletic in mind, making five changes from the team that won 3-1 at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Carpenter, Katie McCabe, Sjoeke Nusken, Maika Hamano and Melvine Malard made way for Veerle Buurman, Erin Cuthbert, Lauren James, Sandy Baltimore and Aggie Beever-Jones.

The match began with a Lexi Potter effort from the edge of the penalty area that bounced only inches wide of the left-hand post.

Another big opportunity followed before the ten-minute mark when Alyssa Thompson burst into the box from the right-hand side and forced a save from Rachele Baldi. She then struck the crossbar with her follow-up shot.

James attempted one of her trademark curling shots soon after, but this time the goalkeeper was able to collect comfortably.

Pushing for the opener

Midway through the first half, a long ball forward from Hannah Hampton picked out Beever-Jones perfectly. The striker found herself with only one defender and the goalkeeper to beat, but before she could pull the trigger, a well-timed tackle from Shukurat Oladipo denied her the chance.

Kaptein then sent a shot over the bar from a tight angle after receiving an excellent flick-on from Beever-Jones in the box.

The visitors had defended well and offered little going forward, yet when the ball took an unlucky ricochet off Buurman, Giada Greggi was able to advance towards Hampton's goal. That was, until captain Cuthbert slid in with a tough challenge to deny her the chance to shoot.

The breakthrough

Our opener was created and scored by Carpenter, just six minutes after being introduced as a half-time substitute. Driving forward with intent from deep, the wing-back laid the ball off to Kaptein on the right-hand side, and the Dutch international crossed it back to Carpenter, who had continued her run into the centre of the box.

She then slid her finish under the goalkeeper's legs from six yards out to break the deadlock, to the relief of the Blues supporters in the stands.

Melvine Malard replaced Beever-Jones just before the hour mark, and fresh from her brace last Sunday, she soon set her sights on goal. Her first real attempt came soon after her introduction as she dragged her shot just wide of the far post.

Seeking our second

The Blues continued to battle a Roma side determined to keep things tight. Malard shot wide after creating her own opportunity, and minutes later squared a pass to Nusken, who blazed over the bar.

Roma then proved why our slender advantage was precarious. Alayah Pilgrim curled an attempt just wide of our right-hand post, and while they still hadn't managed an attempt on target, it was certainly a warning shot.

However, with just one minute remaining, Buchanan's header doubled our advantage, and the defender showed her delight in scoring as she peeled away in celebration towards the home supporters.

Another game ticked off. Another three points secured.

What it means...

We rise to the top of the Women's Champions League league phase standings with seven points taken from three games, pending results from tonight's later matches.

What comes next...

We travel to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic in the Women's Super League on Sunday afternoon, with kick-off set for 2.30pm.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Bronze, Buchanan, Buurman, Baltimore, Cuthbert (c) (Walsh 55), Potter (Dragoni 84), Kaptein, Thompson (Carpenter h-t), James (Nusken h-t), Beever-Jones (Malard 56)
Unused substitutes: Peng, Spencer, Bjorn, McCabe, Hamano, Brown, Matsukubo
Goalscorers: Carpenter 51, Buchanan 89

Roma: Baldi, Heatley (Corelli 80), Antoine, Doms, Van Dooren (Pilgrim 61), Oliviero, Cimo (Thogersen), Piemonte, Oladipo, Greggi (Giugliano 60), Bergamaschi (Jahnukainen 70)
Unused subs: Soggiu, Ottey, Pandini, Rieke, Babajide, Vergani, Piekarska

Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo