Featured image: Chelsea Women celebrate during their 2-0 win over Roma on 28 October 2026. Photo: Chelsea FC Women via their official Facebook account. Display versions may be cropped. Original club post.
Chelsea Women beat Roma 2-0 in the Women’s Champions League as second-half goals from Ellie Carpenter and Kadeisha Buchanan secured the points at Plough Lane. Wieke Kaptein helped create both goals.
Roma kept Chelsea out before the interval, but Carpenter made the breakthrough six minutes after coming on at half-time. Buchanan’s late header then gave the hosts a more comfortable finish to the evening.
Chelsea Women meet Roma resistance
Sonia Bompastor made five changes from the team that beat Crystal Palace. Chelsea still created early chances, with Lexi Potter sending a shot narrowly wide and Alyssa Thompson forcing a save before hitting the crossbar with her follow-up.
Lauren James also tested Rachele Baldi. Later, a long pass from Hannah Hampton put Aggie Beever-Jones in a promising position, only for Shukurat Oladipo to make a timely tackle.
Roma offered little in attack during the first half. Chelsea’s report says the visitors did not register a shot on target before the break. Yet their defensive work kept the score level despite the hosts’ pressure.
Carpenter opens the scoring
Carpenter entered at half-time and quickly changed the score. She drove forward, exchanged passes with Kaptein and continued her run into the penalty area. The return ball found her close to goal, where she slid her finish beneath Baldi in the 51st minute.
That gave Chelsea the lead their first-half chances had failed to produce. Bompastor then introduced Melvine Malard, who had scored twice against Palace.
Malard threatened again but shot wide. She later created an opening for Sjoeke Nusken, whose effort went over the bar. The second goal remained out of reach for much of the half.
Buchanan makes the result safe
Roma supplied a reminder that a one-goal lead was not secure when Alayah Pilgrim curled an effort just wide. Chelsea still needed another finish to remove the risk of a late equaliser.
It arrived in the 89th minute. Buchanan met Kaptein’s corner with a header to double the advantage and complete a 2-0 win.
Kaptein’s part in both goals linked the two decisive moments. Carpenter supplied the running and finish for the opener, while Buchanan converted the late set piece.
What comes next for Chelsea Women?
The result left Chelsea with seven points from their first three league-phase matches. The club’s report placed them at the top at that moment, pending later games. It would be wrong to present that provisional position as a settled current table.
Chelsea’s next listed fixture is away to Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Sunday, with the club giving a 2.30pm kick-off. Bompastor’s rotation against Roma came with that league match in mind, but her side still finished the European evening with a clean sheet and three points.
Source: Chelsea’s official match report.
