Roma resisted Chelsea’s first-half pressure
Chelsea controlled the opening period and created chances through Alyssa Thompson, Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones. Roma goalkeeper Rachele Baldi got a hand to Thompson’s shot and pushed the ball onto the crossbar. It was one action, not two separate chances.
Roma reached the interval without a shot on target. The visitors had lost 6-0 on their previous trip to face Chelsea, but this time their compact defence kept the first half goalless.
Carpenter changed the match after coming on
Ellie Carpenter and Sjoeke Nusken entered at half-time. Six minutes later Carpenter carried the ball forward, combined with Wieke Kaptein and continued her run before finishing from close range.
The goal rewarded Chelsea’s patience. The home side did not have to abandon its structure and could continue moving Roma’s defence from side to side.
Buchanan scored the second goal in the 89th minute
Roma remained one goal away from a draw until the 89th minute. Buchanan then met Kaptein’s corner and headed in the second goal.
Chelsea moved to the top of the league-phase table for the moment, with other matches in the round still to be completed. Their next match is a Women’s Super League visit to Charlton Athletic.
Kaptein passed to Carpenter and took the corner for Buchanan
Sonia Bompastor made five changes from the weekend team and then used the bench again at half-time. Carpenter immediately began carrying the ball forward from a defensive position while Roma focused on Chelsea’s forwards.
Kaptein exchanged passes with Carpenter for the opening goal and delivered the corner for Buchanan’s header. Chelsea turned long periods of pressure into two different goals without allowing Roma a shot on target in the first half.