Paris FC Féminines vs Chelsea Women. Women's Champions League Group D.
Stade Sebastien-CharletyAttendance13,274.
Match report as Chelsea ended Champions League group stage in style with two goals in each half against Paris FC, who crashed out of the competition; four goals were scored from four shots on target in a typically ruthless performance; the Blues learn quarter-final opponents on February 6
Tuesday 30 January 2024 23:34, UK
A much-changed Chelsea side eased to victory at Paris FC to end their impressive Women's Champions League group stage undefeated.
First-half headers from Fran Kirby and Mia Fishel before late efforts from Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde secured a comfortable 4-0 victory in the French capital.
Emma Hayes' side had already guaranteed themselves a quarter-final spot and she took a rare opportunity to shuffle her pack, with four fixtures in four different competitions coming up within the next 13 days.
After an even opening, it was Kirby, one of two players to keep her place from the weekend, who broke the deadlock with the visitors' first clear opportunity of the game.
Jelena Cankovic crossed to the back post where Kirby arrived unmarked to head home for her first Champions League goal of the campaign.
The hosts, making their group-stage debut - having knocked Arsenal out earlier in the tournament - responded well as Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was forced into a smart save, courtesy of a Mathilde Bourdieu shot.
Paris, though, had not learnt their lesson from Kirby's opener and were caught out in startlingly similar fashion later in the half as Cankovic this time crossed for Fishel to head Chelsea's second.
With the hosts needing victory to keep their hopes of reaching the last eight alive, Julie Dufour missed a sitter after the restart, leaning back and firing over the crossbar.
A number of defensive mix-ups allowed Chelsea to wrap up the win as Reiten was the beneficiary, tapping home after miscommunication on the edge of the Paris box.
There was more questionable defending as Mjelde flicked home a corner with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie poorly positioned.
Chelsea will be seeded for the quarter-final draw on February 6 - guaranteeing they avoid some of Europe's big-hitters.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes speaking to chelseafc.com:
"Superb from us, considering the number of changes made. It was a brilliant performance. I can't ask any more of the team. The young players showed a real maturity.
"The leadership at the back was excellent. We took our moments when they came. When you make lots of changes you never know but I believe in our training environment.
"It's not about how many minutes you've got, it's making those minutes count. I felt everyone made their minutes count. We know there's a long way to go but we're in a strong position."
Chelsea host Everton in the Women's Super League on Sunday, with the game kicking off at 6.45pm live on Sky Sports.
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