Thank you so much for joining me this evening for Chelsea’s dominant display against Vllaznia! Sam Kerr has most definitely found her scoring boots after she slotted four, Pernille Harder had three with Katerina Svitkova also heading home. If you want a recap on any of the action read the report below! I’ll see you back here tomorrow as Arsenal look to follow in Chelsea’s footsteps and extend their perfect run in the tournament with a home match against Zurich! I’ll see you then.
As well as witnessing Chelsea demolish Vllaznia we have agreed Jaffa Cakes are in fact cakes and not biscuits, discussing the important issues of the day. More snack discussions will be held!
In the other match this evening Wolfsburg beat Slavia Praha 2-0 with Jule Brand and Ewa Pajor scoring.
The signature Sam Kerr celebration, I think she was happy with her four goals this evening:
Chelsea had 34 attempts at goal with 11 on target, while Vlaznia only had one shot at goal which was off target. A huge win which will kick-on Chelsea this season. The Blues have been impressive this campaign across all competitions but that early WSL loss to Liverpool had some doubters rearing their heads. I think they have silenced them this evening.
I am guessing Sam Kerr will be Player of the Match, though I haven’t got that confirmed, but Pernille Harder and Guro Reiten also deserve it. Reiten had three or four assists on her 100th appearance.
Full-time: Chelsea 8-0 Vllaznia
The Sam Kerr show has rocketed Chelsea to the top of their group with the Australian bagging four goals. Pernille Harder had a hat-trick of her own with Katerina Svitkova slotting home too. It was a perfect match for Chelsea who were utterly dominant.
90 + 2 min: Chelsea have another corner and Svitkova takes the kick. England connects with it but her header is over.
90 min: Imagine having a hat-trick but not the headlines. Harder has played well but Kerr has four goals in this one despite being subbed 20 or so minutes ago. Kirby’s shot is just wide. There will be four minutes added.
GOAL! Chelsea 8-0 Vllaznia (Harder, 89')
That was so sloppy from the defence as Harder’s tap rolls past the keeper and two defenders! It’s a hat-trick for Harder.
Updated
88 min: The free kick is popped in and it is wide by Doci. Harder puts in a great cross but it is headed out for yet another corner for Chelsea. Perisset is the taker but it is blocked.
86 min: It is quickly dealt with and we are back in action. Vllaznia have a free kick after a foul but it is deep in their own half. Perisset gives away another in defending the first free kick.
84 min: Vllaznia makes another change as Lufo is off for Davidson – Lufo did not start the match so the sub has been replaced, slightly brutal. Kirby pops the ball in but it has too much on it. There are boos ringing round Kingsmeadow as flares have been thrown onto the pitch. There’s a break in play while it is dealt with.
82 min: When Vllaznia faced Real Madrid in the first round of the groups the Spanish giants could only win 2-0, Real did rest Caroline Weir for the game but it just shows by comparison just how dominant Chelsea have been this evening. Back to the match Doci wins a free kick but Eriksson heads away.
80 min: How many more can Chelsea get? England comes through but Perisset’s shot is deflected – another Chelsea corner. Svitkova sends it in but it hits the side netting.
GOAL! Chelsea 7-0 Vllaznia (Svitkova, 78')
What a smashing header!
Updated
77 min: Vllaznia are making changes with Williams-Mosier and Patterson off. And you have guessed it, Chelsea are on the ball again.
75 min: Chelsea are still all over Vllaznia, the visitors still have not had a shot at goal. And here’s a look at Kerr’s goal which warranted the back flip celebration:
SAM'S ON FIRE! 🤸♀️🇦🇺
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 26, 2022
Four goals in an hour for the Australian as Chelsea DOMINATE Vllaznia to make it 5-0 for the hosts 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 https://t.co/1JvtSWY1vE
🇦🇱 https://t.co/7sSEZAokEr pic.twitter.com/sDUvuCAxX4
73 min: That is a brace for Harder, muted celebrations from her too. Carter is being shown a yellow card and she looks like she can’t believe it. Chelsea make two changes with Reiten off for Abdullina and Kirby is on for Fleming.
GOAL! Chelsea 6-0 Vllaznia (Harder, 72')
England wins a corner with Reiten sending it is. England’s header is saved but Harder taps in the rebound.
Updated
70 min: How has that not gone in?! The ball glides across goal but Harder’s attempt is saved.
68 min: Kerr had only scored one goal in all competitions before this match and now she has five! A hugely impressive outing for the striker. Chelsea are still thumping the Vllaznia goal with Harder’s attempt over the crossbar.
66 min: Ingle is a silent star for Chelsea, she may not always grab headlines but she is having a great match. The hosts are in possession once more and they look hungry for more. Williams-Mosier catches the latest attempt.
64 min: Chelsea make some changes with Charles is off for Carter, Kaneryd is off for Svitkova and Kerr is off for England. After some conversations with my editors we believe it was Kerr who scored the fourth goal – meaning she has four this match!
62 min: Apologies for the delay on confirming the fourth goal scorer but Chelsea fans won’t mind either way, it is an utterly dominant display! I am also trying to hunt down the Kerr back flip.
GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 Vllaznia (Kerr, 60')
Well she has the hat-trick regardless and she pulls out the signature back flip celebration for it!
Updated
60 min: Well I am perplexed, DAZN reporting Eriksson has been credited with the goal but Chelsea are celebrating Kerr on social media. I am having a hunt to confirm! Chelsea in possession.
58 min: There was a lot of confusion over the scorer there, Kerr was celebrating wildly but the stream says it is Eriksson who scores. I will treble check that. The captain has another shot and it is wide.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 Vllaznia (Kerr, 57')
Oh wow that was a beauty! Reiten’s cross was perfect and Kerr heads in.
Updated
55 min: Fleming has another shot off target. Williams-Mosier does really well to stop Kerr, she comes out and collects with Kerr having to jump over the keeper. In the other match happening in the tournament Wolfsburg are leading Slavia Praha 1-0, Jule Brand the scorer in that one.
53 min: Reiten has a perfect ball in but Kaneryd’s shot is just wide. Reiten again pops the ball in but it’s out of play, she is having a great game so far.
51 min: It doesn’t look like Doci is being replaced. Chelsea immediately attack and Fleming’s shot is just over the bar. The hosts come through again, there is no letting up, but Charles’ pass has too much on it.
49 min: Ingle tries to find Kaneryd but she runs it out of play. Doci is down here, holding the back of her head. There’s a break in play as she receives some attention.
47 min: A sloppy bit of play from Chelsea as they lose it on the edge of the box. Doci counters but Musovic takes control.
Back underway! Chelsea 3-0 Vllaznia
How big will this score get? We will find out shortly. There has been a break as Vllaznia make two changes with Ramadani and Lufo on for Bashka and Popovic
Adam has got in touch via email and said: “I think I heard on QI at one point that cakes go hard when they get stale whilst biscuits get soft. That would make Jaffa Cakes a cake...I think Less importantly, however, and why yes I am asking mainly because I’d quite like to see this typed out: how on Earth does one pronounce ‘Vllaznia?’” I think you are right about the QI fact and so far we have had no votes for biscuit. In relation to the pronounciation, I think the double l make a y – I hope that helps!
Have a look at Sam Kerr’s two goals in that first half:
WHO ELSE?! 🇦🇺
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 26, 2022
Sam Kerr strikes it home to give the lead to Chelsea against Vllanzia 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 https://t.co/1JvtSWY1vE
🇦🇱 https://t.co/7sSEZAokEr pic.twitter.com/4iMAqaeyGT
Sam Kerr 2️⃣-0️⃣ Vllanzia
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 26, 2022
The Australian gets her brace to double Chelsea's lead 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 https://t.co/1JvtSWY1vE
🇦🇱 https://t.co/7sSEZAokEr pic.twitter.com/icouMQyt1Q
Chelsea’s dominance is displayed through the first half stats. They have had 73% possession with 16 shots at goal, five on target. Vllaznia have had 27% of the ball with no shots whatsoever.
Half-time: Chelsea 3-0 Vllaznia
Chelsea are sailing to the top of the group with this performance as they lead following two goals from Sam Kerr and a tap in from Pernille Harder. The hosts are completely dominant.
44 min: Kerr’s long range shot is blocked and it seems those two quick goals have energised the hosts even more. Kerr looked as though she had her hat-trick but she was offside, Chelsea have the potential to be in front by a lot more.
42 min: Kerr was brought down in the box with Chelsea players screaming for a penalty but it isn’t given. Kerr is there once again but Williams-Mosier punches away, Chelsea almost collect the rebound but the offside flag is raised. Fleming is the next to have a chance but it’s wide.
40 min: Kerr has tripled her goal count this season in this game as I think she had only scored one ahead of the match. Please do correct me if I’m wrong! Chelsea have the ball once more and have it in the box but it’s blocked.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Vllaznia (Harder, 39')
Wow that didn’t take long! A great cross has the visitors napping and Harder taps home.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Vllaznia (Kerr, 37')
Reiten crosses and Kerr is in the perfect position to tap it in.
Updated
36 min: Vllaznia have a free kick from their own half as Kerr fouls. It is thundered in and though it is first blocked by Chelsea, the visitors keep coming. Reiten wrestles possession back, the visitors first real spell of attack there. Chelsea counter but Kaneryd is ruled offside.
34 min: You can hear the Vllaznia coaches celebrating every time their players manage to wrestle possession back. The away fans have also drowned out Chelsea supporters, it’s thought around 420 away fans are at Kingsmeadow. Back to match play, Reiten has a shot but it is wide. She wins a corner though with Perisset hitting it in. Vllaznia manage to clear it.
32 min: Harder shots from outside the box but it is way off target. Chelsea need to be more patient if they want to wrack up an impressive score here, they are rushing some plays. Harder is there again but her header is just over the bar.
30 min: Kerr is ruled offside once more and she looks in disbelief. This time she is onside and wins a throw in. The ball comes to Reiten who runs it out of play. The hosts attack with a low ball into the box rolling behind Kerr.
27 min: Despite going 1-0 down, Vllaznia are doing well to stem the bleeding but will they be able to keep this up throughout the match? Chelsea once again come forward with Harder setting up another chance which is cut out.
25 min: Reiten’s shot at goal sails over the bar. A great cross from Harder but the whistle is blown as Kerr is judged offside. It remains all Chelsea.
23 min: Vllaznia’s free kick is mopped up quickly and Chelsea are in possession once more. Kerr falls in the box and so she can’t turn the chance in goal.
21 min: Chelsea are retaining possession here, they should be more than 1-0 up but Vllaznia have been impressive so far. Perisset has a yellow card for a foul on Doci.
19 min: Perisset takes the kick and it is messy again but Chelsea can’t get a shot in. Buchanan rifles it back into the box but Williams-Mosier punches away.
17 min: Ingle heard rings of ‘shoot’ from outside the box but she decides to pop it into the box but it can’t find a teammate. Chelsea have their fifth corner of the match as Vllaznia defend again, this is going to be a long evening for the visitors.
15 min: Chelsea have a corner as Popovic plays it out, Perisset takes the kick but Williams-Mosier comes out and punches away. Perisset’s next shot sails over the bar.
13 min: The dominance is incredible from Chelsea so far and it just keeps coming, going a goal up hasn’t made the Blues put the brakes on. The goal was a beauty with Harder laying up Kerr perfectly. A fun fact for you the commentator on the stream has just said Vllaznia scored 162 goals and only conceded two in their domestic last season, how crazy is that!
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Vllaznia (Kerr, 10')
There’s the opener! Sam Kerr will be thrilled to get that after a few games without a score, a nice one touch finish.
Updated
8 min: What a defensive effort from Maliqi! She leaps through the air to head the ball away from the hunting Kerr, she concedes a corner but the set piece is well defended.
6 min: That was so close! Chelsea have two balls glide across goal but no one is there to hit it home. The Blues are completely dominant so far, a corner to come. Perisset takes the kick but it is blocked. Buchanan comes with another shot but Williams-Mosier saves once again.
4 min: Chelsea have a corner after Vllaznia defend once more, Reiten sends the ball in and it’s messy in the box but Charles’ shot is saved by Williams-Mosier.
2 min: There are so many Vllaznia fans at Kingsmeadow which is great to see! Chelsea have had the early possession, Fleming had a shot but it is blocked! Harder also gets on the ball but it goes wide and then Ingle’s shot is blocked. It’s all Chelsea so far.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Vllaznia
Here we go! Who will get the win here? Chelsea could top the group if they find a win after Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 result against PSG earlier today.
The players will be coming out to the pitch at Kingsmeadow shortly to get this match underway! Get in touch with your thoughts on this match or get involved in our Jaffa Cake debate via Twitter or email.
Updated
Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson said ahead of the Vllaznia match: “We learned we have it in us to go all the way [in 2021]. That brings big confidence to the group knowing we can do it and we definitely have the quality in the squad. Last year we got to understand the difficulty of the group stages where there are six games and you have a heavy schedule. I’m just really pleased we got off to a good start this year and got three points in a tough away game.”
Those two matches have finished St Polten 3-4 Roma and Real Madrid 0-0 PSG. St Polten will be frustrated after they led 1-0 at half-time.
There are two other matches which kicked off earlier today. There is a thriller between St Polten and Roma as the match is currently 4-3 to Roma! Meanwhile Real Madrid v PSG is still in a 0-0 deadlock. They are both into the second half injury time and I’ll keep you up to date on those when I can!
I have tracked Vllaznia’s team news down with help from UEFA’s website!
Vllaznia’s starting XI: Williams-Mosier, Popovic, Knox, Maliqi, Gjini, Berisha, Franja, Patterson, Cavanaugh, Doci, Bashka.
Harriet has weighed in on whether Jaffa Cakes are cakes or biscuits, saying: “Jaffa Cakes and Rich Digestives cannot both be biscuits. Firmly team “cake”. Now I’m craving them of course.” Get to the shops before kick-off!
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If you have read my blogs before you know I love a bit of snack chat. This evening I have Jaffa cakes but do you think they are a cake or a biscuit? Let me know via Twitter or email.
Guro Reiten is in the starting line-up for Chelsea this evening and she will make her 100th appearance for the club. What an achievement!
Chelsea have released their team news and Fran Kirby is back in the squad but she will start from the bench and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd retains her starting shirt.
Starting XI: Musovic, Ingle, Reiten, Perisset, Eriksson, Fleming, Kaneryd, Kerr, Charles, Harder, Buchanan.
Your Chelsea XI to face Vllaznia tonight! 👊#CFCW #UWCL pic.twitter.com/JB7OrxaSpM
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) October 26, 2022
I am tracking down the team news for Vllanzia.
Preamble
Welcome back to our Women’s Champions League coverage where Chelsea host Vllaznia and the visitors are looking for their first win of the campaign.
The tournament’s group stage began last week and Vllaznia lost 2-0 to Real Madrid. They held off the Spanish giants for a long time with the first goal coming in the 54th minute and so they do have a strong defensive performance.
Chelsea, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain after a dogged display. Millie Bright scored in the first half and they put out a good defensive effort, particularly through goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. The Blues have also been handed a boost with Fran Kirby available for the match.
Team news will be out soon so stay tuned for updates ahead of kick-off at 8pm BST.
