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Chelsea host Paris FC in the UWCL Group Stage at Stamford Bridge |
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We are back at the Bridge to watch The Chels hosting The Parisians in match day 2 the Group Stage of the UWCL. The Blues are smarting from the daylight (floodlit?) robbery that denied them 3 points away to Real Madrid where the officials had to step in to save the blushes of the home side and help them get a very undeserved point. Paris FC are the team that caused the upsets when they knocked the Gunners and Wolfsburg out in the qualification stages. The Blues might not be bothered about that but we are as we were looking forward to some more European nights at the Emirates. We'll just have to settle for trips to the Bridge this year and it starts here. Paris FC are an up and coming side so it will be a tough test of the Blues tonight. Exactly a year ago tonight , the Blues beat real Madrid on our first visit to the Kingsmeadow. We still don't know if Erin's goal was a cross or a shot. It is always good to meet Basil but where does he get all that energy. Some team news as Millie is out injured. AKB is in goal with a back 4 of Jess and Kadeisha with Ashley Lawrence and Niamh out wide. Nusken, Fleming and Cuthbert are in the middle. Lauren is out on the left ,Kaneryd on the right and Captain Sam up front. Don't recognise any of Paris except the keeper who played for Nigeria in the World Cup🌍. They do look like a well-built physical side. Hope Emma has been feeding the girls well this week.
The Parisians kick off and are energetic from the start. The first chance goes to the Blues though, as LJ gets clear in the box and tries for top corner from about 8 yards out. It's not the time for worldie practice, just smash it and let them pick it out of the net. Hope they don't come to regret that miss. It's LJ quality that assists the breakthrough as Sam gets her foot to a beautifully curled pass to beat the keeper on 30 ⚽. They are still far from being dominant and the opposition are pressing and tackling and winning the ball back. Meanwhile it just won't click for the Blues as they are getting hustled off the ball and can't find each other with the passes. Paris are fast on the break and causing the Chels back line problems as they are pushing so high up. Erin's work rate and determination are incredible breaking up so much of the Paris threat. Flying into tackles everywhere. What gets her past is getting mopped up by Jess and Kadeisha The pressure eventually earns them a corner and they equalise from a corner on 38. It's been well earned and it's all level at the break.
Emma makes just one change at the break and it's Fran for on for Jessie Flemming. Fran brings some more creativity with her. We don't have to wait long for a goal as Sam get her 2nd on 48 ⚽ with Kaneryd curling pass for the assist this time. AKB assists the third with a long clearance and she runs on to it before chipping it miles into the air. It looped so hi that it looks way over the bar from where we were. We had jumped up with excitement and sat down again in disappointment before it tucks just under the post and into the net on 55 ⚽. Captain fantastic hits a hattrick. Backflippin' heck. She gets a chance for a 4th but scuffs it well wide. Paris come close AKB tips over the bar. Sophie Ingle, who took the captains arm band from Sam, scores from a Perisset corner dead on the 90⚽. It all over and a good win for the Blue against a tough physical side.
Great performance today. Paris FC are the surprise of the group and to put them to the Sam Kerr shaped sword is good. AKB is the shed end for the 2nd half. Good things can happen when she is there. What we didn't expect is that she would get an assist. We got a Sam Kerr hattrick but the black-flip has been retired with the last one being the FA Cup final. A well justified 3 points for the Chels today after the daylight robbery away against Real Madrid. It's nice to be back at the Bridge but the not a fan of the East Stand. Not a great view. Hope to be back for the Real Madrid home leg in January.
POTM: Easy peasy today to pick the hattrick hero⚽⚽⚽, Captain Fantastic, the former back-flipper herself 🤸♀️, Sam Kerr. Utterly ruthless today 🎯.
The Scranometer had a brief outing and the vegan nuggets were ok but nothing special and there was a very limited choice. Hope we are in a different stand next time.
Basil Watch: Met him behind the shed and heard him plenty in the East stand.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| In the East Stand |
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| Met Basil behind the Shed |
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| Taxi for one |
