Chelsea didn’t need long to shake off the sting of their unexpected league slip-up.
Back on home turf at Stamford Bridge, Sonia Bompastor’s squad stepped into Champions League mode like they were flipping a switch.
A fortunate own goal opened the door, but after that, the floodgates were their own doing.
With the win, Chelsea slide into the knockout rounds with a game still in hand — and leave Roma’s European ambitions officially out of reach.
A Stressful Start Turns Into a Chelsea Cruise
For the first quarter-hour, Roma actually looked like they were ready to make life uncomfortable for the hosts.
Chelsea felt a touch jittery, the memory of their loss to Everton still lingering.
But all that tension dissolved the moment Sandy Baltimore whipped a teasing ball across the box.
Roma defender Valentina Bergamaschi, trying desperately to clear it, ended up steering a perfect striker’s header past her own goalkeeper.
From that accidental breakthrough, Chelsea relaxed, controlled the tempo, and steadily piled on.
Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd and Nusken (from the spot) added their names to the scoresheet before Hamano and Bronze polished things off late on.
It was exactly the night Bompastor needed — calm, clinical, and crisis-quelling.
Millie Bright Reminds Everyone Who She Is
Millie Bright has anchored Chelsea’s back line for so long that seeing her on the bench in recent matches almost didn’t feel real.
With competition in the center-back positions fiercer than ever, her future role has become a talking point.
But against Roma? She was back to looking like the version of Millie Bright that Chelsea have leaned on for years — commanding, clear-headed, and constantly guiding 19-year-old partner Veerle Buurman through the match.
Bompastor couldn’t hide her admiration afterward, acknowledging the difficult situation Bright has been in and praising how professionally she’s handled it.
Her performance didn’t silence long-term questions, but it sure added a new layer for her manager to consider.
Sam Kerr Works, Presses, Battles — But Can’t Find the Finish
Sam Kerr’s effort was all there: the pressing, the movement, the link-up play.
But the one thing Chelsea’s star striker usually delivers with ease — goals — just didn’t fall for her.
In a match where so many teammates found the net, Kerr’s blank surely didn’t go unnoticed.
Four shots, two on target, plenty of involvement… but no moment where the ball finally kissed the back of the net.
She made way for Guro Reiten with 20 minutes to go — another attacker fighting for minutes in a crowded frontline.
Keira Walsh Settles In After a Slippery Opening
Keira Walsh is normally the definition of dependable calm in Chelsea’s midfield, so her shaky first minutes were an eyebrow-raiser.
A handful of misplaced touches and one risky turnover gave Roma a sniff of hope.
But if there’s one thing Walsh never does, it’s panic.
Once Chelsea found their rhythm, so did she, returning to her usual role as the quiet conductor.
Her pass that helped create the second goal was a reminder of how quickly she can reset and dictate the match again.
Rust off. Control restored.
What Comes Next?
Chelsea go into their final group game with breathing room and a straight path into the quarter-finals.
The pressure is easing, confidence is returning, and Bompastor gets a bit of calm after a turbulent week.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn