Chelsea hit Roma for six to secure playoff place

Captain Millie Bright had dismissed any suggestions that Chelsea were in crisis after suffering a first league defeat in 34 games, and six goals in a comprehensive defeat of Roma in their penultimate game of the Champions League group phase put those thoughts to bed.

- Suzanne Wrack

‘An own goal broke the fight of Roma early on and it was added to by Wieke Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Niisken, Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Lyon and Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Atlético Madrid meant the Blues moved into third and are one game away from automatic progression to the Champions League quarter finals, with the top four skipping playoffs.

Chelsea were without the midfielder Erin Cuthbert and the centre-back Nathalie Bjérn for the visit of the Serie A side Roma.

Making her first appearance since a frustrating 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 16 November, Bright returned to the starting XI for Sonia Bompas-tor’s side after two games sat on the bench. Bright was one of six changes to the Chelsea team that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.