Chelsea Rediscover Their Ruthless Edge as Bompastor's Vision Takes Shape

Chelsea beat Roma 2-0 in the UEFA Women's Champions League in London, stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions. The result briefly put the Blues top of both the Champions League table and the Women's Super League as momentum builds under Sonia Bompastor.

Both goals came from substitutes. Ellie Carpenter broke the deadlock early in the second half, and Kadeisha Buchanan added a header in the 89th minute. It was not the most polished or clinical display, but it recalled the Chelsea of old, a side that finds a way to win even when frustration sets in and confidence dips.

It was the second game in a row in which Bompastor had to turn to her bench sooner than she would have liked. Against newly promoted Crystal Palace, Chelsea trailed at halftime, and the French coach replaced Alyssa Thompson and Maika Hamano with Sandy Baltimore and Erin Cuthbert on the way to a 3-1 comeback win. Against Roma, Thompson and Lauren James made way at the break for Sjoeke Nüsken and Carpenter, and within five minutes Chelsea had the lead they had deserved after dominating without converting their chances.

Aggie Beever-Jones, who has been out of form and short of minutes, was replaced by Melvine Malard soon afterward. The England international looked short of confidence and could not finish a pass from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton that set up a clear chance. She took one touch too many in the box and was dispossessed.

A two-goal margin undersold Chelsea's control. They had 16 chances, six of them on target, while Roma managed only three attempts, all off target. Chelsea held 60% possession and completed 83 successful passes into the final third.

The starters have struggled to do their half of the job, but the depth of the squad and its finishing have protected Chelsea's record. The substitutions also showed Bompastor's tactical sense and game management.

This is the first season in which the squad is entirely hers. Her first spell brought a domestic treble but leaned heavily on the group built by former manager Emma Hayes. Last season was a transition that blended old and new. Over the summer Chelsea moved on Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Niamh Charles, and signed players who better suit Bompastor's vision, including Malard, Giulia Dragoni and Manaka Matsukubo. Dragoni appeared briefly against her former club. The grace period for adapting to Bompastor's methods has passed.

The signs are that things are clicking. Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 6-2 after Spurs equalized early, and held OL Lyonnes to a 0-0 draw in an end-to-end contest. They also won 5-0 against Manchester United and 1-0 against Arsenal. The defense, a weakness when Chelsea were pinned back last season, now looks composed. Chelsea have yet to concede in the Champions League and have let in only four WSL goals, the lowest total in the league. Their 21 goals are the most in the division.

Bompastor said the team had rotated on Sunday and against Roma. "I think probably the first half was not good enough tonight, and it's always important for us to come into the second half with the solutions, but also the mindset to turn things around," she said. "I'm pleased with the fact we scored really early in the second half. We could have probably killed the game a little bit earlier."

The standards at the club are so high that even a 2-0 win can feel like a missed opportunity. That reflects how high the ceiling is for this group, and if the season keeps climbing, Chelsea could be back on top.