REWIND: Kirby hits hat-trick as Chelsea net six on famous night in Florence

The 2018/2019 season saw Chelsea reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League before their run was ended by European champions Lyon.

In a special feature, we take a look back at the second leg of The Blues’ last-16 tie against Italian club Fiorentina.

A Karen Carney penalty kick had given Emma Hayes’ side a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg and a tough return leg was expected as Chelsea travelled to Florence. We look back at that fixture, a game which saw The Blues show their potential competition-winning credentials.

Chelsea started rapidly in Florence and Erin Cuthbert saw an effort cannon off the crossbar inside 10 minutes after connecting with a Jonna Andersson cross.

The Blues again struck the woodwork three minutes later when home keeper Stephanie Ohrstrom pushed a Carney effort from distance onto the bar.

Chelsea were soon to edge in-front when Drew Spence expertly directed the ball home from a Carney cut-back and it was almost 2-0 but the hugely unlucky Cuthbert saw an effort hit the post for the second time in the game. That chance proved to be a warning for the hosts and Fran Kirby fired home the second goal of the game seven minutes before half-time to put the tie out of the Italian club’s reach.

Kirby doubled her tally from the penalty spot early in the second half after Ramona Bachmann had been fouled in the area before the England international played in Cuthbert to score as Chelsea went 4-0 up on the night and 5-0 up on aggregate.

It was Kirby who netted the fifth goal of the game, finding the back of the net via the post to round-off her hat-trick before Bachmann’s cheeky chip made it 6-0.

Hayes’ side were to play the last 16 minutes with 10 players after Millie Bright was sent-off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. It was the only negative on a night which Chelsea were at their very best as they qualified for the quarter-finals courtesy of a 6-0 victory in Florence and a 7-0 success on aggregate.

About The Author

Daniel Pentland

I am the editor and owner of the WSL Full-Time brand which I launched in 2018.

I am an accredited journalist with the FWA, SJA and AIPS. I have reported from various levels of men’s and women’s elite football since 2016.

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