Just before the hour mark, Kerr headed home Guro Reiten's inviting corner as Chelsea maintained their lead. At the hour mark, the Australian blasted in her fourth goal of the night. She was unplayable. With 20 minutes remaining, Harder scored her two goals and our sixth, and then substitute Katerina Svitkova scored her first goal for the team to make it seven.
There was still time for the Blues to increase our score with two minutes left. We charged decisively to the top spot in Group A as Harder claimed her hat trick with a close-range tap-in, putting the finishing touches on an incredible performance.
Selection
Seven changes were made to the starting lineup from the 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last time out by Denise Reddy and Paul Green. The four players who kept their spots in the starting lineup were Niamh Charles, Eve Perisset, Jessie Fleming, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
The predicted omissions were Melanie Leupolz and Jelena Cankovic. While Leupolz is on maternity leave, Cankovic is still recovering from his injury. Meanwhile, Fran Kirby's return from illness and inclusion among the substitutes marked a welcome addition to the matchday squad.
The Blues lined up in a 4-3-3 configuration with Kadeisha Buchanan and captain Magdalena Eriksson playing center back and Zecira Musovic in goal. Guro Reiten, Kerr, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd made a fierce-looking attack, with Pernille Harder stationed behind them.
The Kerr-tain Raiser
On a lovely evening at Kingsmeadow, Chelsea kicked off the match. An impressive Albanian traveling contingent was audible in the away section. We took the ball quickly and confidently in the game's opening minutes, trying to establish our dominance over the contest.
We created an early opportunity after only three minutes of play. Charles headed the ball downward in response to Perisset's floated corner, which sparked a scramble and allowed Charles to make a second contact that was blocked by Kaylin Conner Williams-Mosier in the Vllaznia goal. Later, the visiting goalkeeper was once more quickly to stop Kaneryd from scoring from a close angle.
Ten minutes were played as a result of our tenacity and supremacy. Harder skillfully placed a beautifully weighted reverse pass in Kerr's direction, and Kerr accurately put the ball beyond Williams-Mosier to give the Blues a deserving lead. The Chelsea supporters were enthralled by the free-wheeling, creative game we were playing.
Fast-Firing Double
We maintained possession as the half-hour mark drew near, and our link-up and transitional play looked good. Because he blocked a potential Vllaznia counterattack down the right, Perisset received the first caution of the match. Once more, Harder changed roles and passed to Kerr, who was unbalanced and unable to shoot on goal, but the offside flag was raised.
Following a lovely combination between Reiten and Charles down the left side, their clever interchanging passing resulted in a corner when Reiten's shot was deflected wide. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Blues were unable to capitalize on the set-piece, and a second goal would have been much-appreciated.
Our second goal was scored in minute 36, and Kerr scored twice. Again, Harder played a key role in the setup by threading a beautiful pass down the left side for Reiten. The Norwegian gave the Blues a two-goal lead by playing a brilliantly weighted first-time ball into the box that Kerr was able to nudge home from close range.
Chelsea players were ravenous for goals, and we scored our third goal just two minutes after Kerr doubled our lead. Reiten again took the role of the provider, replicating her initial assist by putting the ball on a plate for Harder, who nailed it. We went into the break with a three-goal lead after Kerr was denied a hat-trick just before the break by the offside flag.
Four-midtable
Aleksandra Popovic and Maria Bashka were replaced at halftime by Rrezona Ramadani and Esi Lufo, respectively. But the Blues persisted in their efforts to score more goals. After more good build-up by Chelsea, who was trying to continue where they left off in the first half, Jessie Fleming curled an effort beyond the target.
Reiten attempted to complete her hat-trick of assists when she delivered another precise cross into the path of Kaneryd, but the Swede was unable to control the ball and misfired with her first-time attempt. With numerous opportunities from the start, Chelsea scored additional goals in this encounter.
Just before the hour mark, Kerr headed in Reiten's in-swinging corner for our fourth goal, giving her a hat-trick. On the hour, the indomitable Australian scored her fourth goal of the game, stroking the ball home for our fifth before performing her signature backflip to excite the Blues supporters.
Clinical Outcome
For the Blues, a triple substitution was planned, with Jess Carter, Katerina Svitkova, and Bethany England all coming on for Charles, Kaneryd, and four-goal scorer Kerr. We continued to score goals, and Harder got a brace in the 72nd minute, capitalizing on England's knockdown to score the sixth goal of the game for the Blues.
With 15 minutes left, Fran Kirby made a welcome comeback to the lineup, taking Fleming's position, while Alsu Abdullina replaced Reiten, who had been outstanding. Svitkova, who had just come off the bench, contributed to the scoring with a seventh goal for the Blues, her first since joining the team in the summer.
There was still time for Chelsea to increase our scoring total with two minutes left to play. We consciously pushed our way into first place in Group A when Harder, one of several players who put up an exceptional display on the night, scored her own hat-trick by converting from close range.
Next, what?
This Sunday, October 30, the Blues will return to Women's Super League action when we host Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow. Kickoff is at 2pm (UK time)
In our first WSL game at Kingsmeadow since before the break, we'll be aiming for a fifth straight league triumph.
Fans who are unable to attend the game can follow the action on our platforms, and it will also be broadcast on the FA Player.
Chelsea's starting lineup reads as follows: Musovic; Perisset; Buchanan; Eriksson; Charles (Carter 63'); Fleming (Kirby 73'); Ingle; Harder; Reiten (Abdullina 73'); Kerr (England 63'); and Rytting Kaneryd (Svitkova 63').
Berger, Orman, Nouwen, Bright, James, Kirby, and Cuthbert were all inactive substitutes.
Scorers: Svitkova (77'), Harder (38'), Kerr (10', 36', 57', and 60').
Perisset was reserved (21')
Williams-Mosier, Popovic, Knox, Maliqi, Gjini, Berisha, Franja, Patterson (Shala 76'), Cavanaugh, Doci, Bashka (Lufo 45'), and (Davidson 83') Vllaznia (4-2-3-1)
Raxhimi, Vuksani, Davidson, Gjergji, Kodra, and Saranovic were all inactive substitutes.
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