2 years ago
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Chelsea defender Millie Bright produced the game's only goalMillie Bright scored the only goal as Chelsea kicked off their Champions League campaign with an impressive victory at Paris St-Germain.
The England centre-back volleyed home from close range after latching on to a well-timed Erin Cuthbert cross.
They didn't produce many more clear-cut chances but defended well.
Chelsea failed to reach the knockout stages last year but a strong defensive performance helped them beat last year's semi-finalists.
The Blues continue to be without head coach Emma Hayes, who is recovering from an emergency hysterectomy as part of her "ongoing battle with endometriosis".
They were also without creative forward Fran Kirby for the trip to Paris.
But they stepped up to the task at hand, despite the hostile atmosphere produced by PSG's ultras, and produced a positive result.
PSG and Brazil winger Neymar was among the crowd at the Stade Jean Bouin, where the noise was non-stop throughout the game.
The hosts had much of the possession but failed to find the net for the first time in 16 Champions League games.
They were lacking last season's French league top scorer, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament at the Euros while on international duty with France.
And Chelsea found the game's only goal when Bright peeled off her marker to rifle Cuthbert's cross into the roof of the net.
Cuthbert shines in Paris
Erin Cuthbert's work-rate in midfield helped to lead Chelsea to victoryVersatile Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert was the engine as Chelsea's European campaign got off to a winning start.
She provided the expertly timed cross for Bright's opening goal but was integral in the middle of the park throughout the game, producing a high-effort performance to thwart PSG's attempts to go forward.
Her endeavours reduced the hosts to trying their luck from distance and nullified the threats they would otherwise have posed on the counter.
Working as part of a double-pivot alongside the equally impressive Sophie Ingle at the base of the Blues' midfield, she helped to steady the play and allow Chelsea to move forward with fluidity.
Cuthbert has also been used in both attack and defence for her side in the past.
And her previous work as a winger was evident in her excellent distribution to follow up a failed corner by expertly finding Bright at the back post.
Her work in front of the defence aided Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan behind her to produce a steely performance and limit PSG to only a single shot on target.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Paris Saint-Germain Féminines
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 50Bouhaddi
- 12Lawrence
- 13IlestedtBooked at 34mins
- 5De Almeida
- 7Karchaoui
- 6Jean-FrançoisSubstituted forTraoreat 79'minutes
- 24GroenenSubstituted forCascarinoat 70'minutes
- 8Geyoro
- 18Fazer
- 11Diani
- 10Bachmann
Substitutes
- 14Hamraoui
- 16Picaud
- 19Cascarino
- 21Baltimore
- 23Georgieva
- 26Li
- 28Yang
- 35Ngueleu
- 36Traore
- 60Toussaint
Chelsea Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 30Berger
- 18Mjelde
- 4Bright
- 26BuchananBooked at 16mins
- 16Eriksson
- 22Cuthbert
- 5IngleSubstituted forPérissetat 90+2'minutes
- 21Charles
- 23HarderSubstituted forFlemingat 77'minutes
- 11ReitenSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 77'minutes
- 20Kerr
Substitutes
- 1Musovic
- 3Nouwen
- 7Carter
- 9England
- 10James
- 13Svitková
- 15Périsset
- 17Fleming
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 27Abdullina
- 32Orman
Live Text
Match ends, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines 0, Chelsea Women 1.
Second Half ends, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines 0, Chelsea Women 1.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Ève Périsset replaces Sophie Ingle.
Manssita Traore (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women).
Attempt blocked. Manssita Traore (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grace Geyoro.
Attempt missed. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a cross.
Attempt missed. Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kadeisha Buchanan.
Laurina Fazer (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).
Attempt missed. Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Amanda Ilestedt.
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Élisa De Almeida.
Substitution, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines. Manssita Traore replaces Oriane Jean-François.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd replaces Guro Reiten.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jessie Fleming replaces Pernille Harder.
Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women).
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Élisa De Almeida.
Attempt missed. Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sakina Karchaoui.
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