Chelsea rolled to a dominant UEFA Women’s Champions League victory on Wednesday with American forward Alyssa Thompson celebrating a memorable moment.
Thompson scored her first goal for the club in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Paris FC. The USWNT attacker played 56 minutes in the match as the reigning WSL champions earned their first victory of the league phase.
Sandy Baltimore’s 31st-minute penalty kick propelled the hosts in front 1-0 before Thompson played distributor on Chelsea’s second goal of the first half. The 20-year-old set up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd to double Chelsea’s lead before halftime.
Thompson added her name to the scoresheet two minutes into the second half. Keira Walsh’s low cross found Thompson at the back post for a simple tap-in.
Erin Cuthbert would add an insurance goal for Chelsea with 27 minutes left to play, padding an eventual shutout result.
Fellow USWNT attacker Catarina Macario was an unused substitute in the match. Naomi Girma remained sidelined through injury.
Chelsea will return to league play on November 1 against London City Lionesses.
Both Thompson and Macario will be heading on international duty as the USWNT has three friendlies later this month.
Lily Yohannes scores golazo in Lyon’s victory
18-year-old Lily Yohannes was also among the American goalscorers in Wednesday’s UWCL action.
Yohannes scored from long range as Lyon rolled past SKN St. Poelten 3-0. The USWNT midfielder played 74 minutes while fellow USWNT teammate Lindsey Heaps played 16 minutes off of the bench.
Jule Brand opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Ada Hederberg doubled the hosts lead before halftime.
Yohannes delivered the final goal of the match, calling her own number from 30+ yards out.
It marked Yohannes’ second goal of the season in all competitions.
She later talked about the goal and how her Lyon teammates have made her adjustment to France very easy.
“Honestly I just saw the keeper out and I thought I may as well go for it,” said Yohannes in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo. “I’ve done that before at Ajax so I thought I may as well try it so happy it went in.
“I think everybody has made me feel so welcome and so that allows me to come into the team and be myself and play my game,” she added. “We have so many great players around me who make me better and make it easier.”
Both Yohannes and Heaps will also be joining their USWNT teammates later this month for international duty.
UEFA Women’s Champions League continues Thursday with USWNT goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and defender Emily Fox both in action with their respective clubs.
Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United visit Atletico Madrid while Fox and Arsenal visit Benfica.