Chelsea Women completed their Australasian tour with another commanding victory as goals from Sandy Baltimore, Sjoeke Nüsken and Lexi Potter secured a 3-0 win over the A-League Women All Stars in Sydney.
Sonia Bompastor’s side followed Saturday’s 7-0 demolition of Auckland FC with another controlled performance at Allianz Stadium, ending the trip with 10 goals scored and none conceded.
Baltimore opened the scoring before Nüsken doubled Chelsea’s advantage, while 19-year-old Potter came off the bench to put the result beyond doubt with the third.
Chelsea Women make another pre-season statement
Bompastor made three changes from the Auckland victory, with Hannah Hampton returning in goal, Lucy Bronze captaining the side and Lauren James making her first appearance of pre-season.
Chelsea started with considerable attacking quality. Aggie Beever-Jones retained her place after scoring a hat-trick in New Zealand, while Baltimore and Alyssa Thompson operated alongside her.
Baltimore made Chelsea’s pressure count by breaking the deadlock before Nüsken gave the Blues a two-goal cushion.
ReadChelsea covered Nüsken’s goal as Chelsea took control in Sydney, with the Germany international continuing a productive start to pre-season after also impressing against Auckland.
Bompastor was able to turn to her bench as the game progressed, and Potter took her opportunity.
The teenager had dropped out of the starting XI to accommodate James after beginning the Auckland victory, but responded by scoring Chelsea’s third after being introduced in Sydney.
Potter’s contribution provided another encouraging moment for a player who became increasingly involved with the senior side last season.
Chelsea also protected the clean sheet to ensure Hampton and the defence ended the evening without conceding.
Wednesday’s result rounds off an impressive tour for Bompastor’s squad. Chelsea scored seven against Auckland before adding three more against considerably stronger A-League All Stars opposition.
Attention will soon turn towards competitive football. Chelsea’s official schedule confirms they face a Women’s Champions League qualifier later this month before opening their Women’s Super League campaign against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on 5 September.
Two pre-season victories have given Bompastor exactly the platform she wanted.
Potter making another impression only adds to the positives Chelsea take home from Australia.
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