Chelsea have one foot in the last 16 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, following a big first leg win away to Benfica.
Emma Hayes’ side were 4-0 up at the interval as Fran Kirby scored twice and Guro Reiten contributed three assists.
It was from a Pernille Harder cross just 80 seconds in that Kirby got her first, to become Chelsea’s all-time top scorer ahead of Eniola Aluko.
Millie Bright doubled the lead inside the half-hour with a far-post header from a free kick, Kirby finished clinically soon afterwards, while Harder nodded in the fourth just before the break.
Ji So-yun set up Bethany England for the fifth early in the second half and although Benfica’s Catarina Amado received a second caution, the hosts went closest to scoring when Ann-Katrin Berger turned a Chloe Lacasse strike over the bar.
The second leg is at Kingsmeadow Stadium next Wednesday.
Issue #SK64 of She Kicks women’s football mag – AVAILABLE NOW
