Matildas Abroad Review: Trio of Aussies on the scoresheet in the UWCL group stage

Our Matildas Abroad starred in the UEFA Women's Champions League over the week, with Kerr, Catley and Foord on the scoresheet to secure dominant wins. 

The action continued in UWCL group stage matchday three, with all four teams featuring our Matildas Abroad picking up crucial wins. Chelsea and Lyon remain unbeaten in the group stage thus far. 

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Group A

Sam Kerr's Chelsea picked up a dominant win against Servette FC Chênois in Geneva, beating the team from Switzerland 7-0. 

Chelsea made it back-to-back victories with their 7-0 win, showing a clinical display against a side that is yet to score in the UWCL. 

The Blues were 5-0 up just 25 minutes into the encounter, with Melanie Leupolz opening the scoring. Fran Kirby picked up her first of the night after a lovely backheel from Kerr set Kirby up.

Kerr then etched her own name into the scoresheet, scoring two goals in just two minutes. 

The Aussie's quickfire double was then matched by Kirby before Canadian Jessie Fleming added the sixth to send Chelsea into the break with a healthy advantage. 

Kerr turned provider once again, setting up Guro Reiten for Chelsea's seventh of the night just minutes into the second half.

Chelsea will be looking to repeat the dose when they host Servette FC in next week's UWCL game.

Chelsea v Servette FC Chênois
Date: Friday, November 19
Kick-off: 7:00 am AEDT

Group C

Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Lydia Williams all made the start for Arsenal as they faced UWCL first-timers HB Køge.

Arsenal put in a dominant performance to move three points clear of third-placed Hoffenheim, defeating HB Køge 5-1. 

The Gunners were given the perfect opportunity to open the scoring when Nikita Parris was bought down in the box. Parris stepped up to take the resulting penalty but her attempt was palmed away by Køge's keeper, Kaylan Marckese.

Arsenal would soon get the opener they were searching for, a free-kick was won just outside the box and Steph Catley found the top corner to net her first-ever goal for the Gunners in incredible fashion. 

Parris and Caitlin Foord both found the back of the net after the hour mark.

Jordan Nobbs' shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, which Foord calmly nodded home to give the Gunners a three-goal advantage. 

Maddie Pokorny pulled one back for the home side, capitalising off a defensive error to find the Danish side’s first group stage goal.

Foord set up the next goal with a lovely cross to an unmarked Anna Patten. Nobbs added the fifth to seal the win.

Arsenal will now host HB Køge in their next group stage game, hoping a similar result is in store.

Arsenal v HB Køge 
Date: Thursday, November 18
Kick-off: 7:00 am AEDT

Group D

Ellie Carpenter made the start as Lyon welcomed the only other side in Group D to have secured a win, Bayern Munich.

Both sides traded chances before Bayern found the back of the net.

A dangerous corner was unable to be dealt with and Lyon conceded an own goal through Kadeisha Buchanan, their first goal to be scored against them in the group stage.  

Ellie Carpenter of Lyonin action during the UEFA Women's Champions League group D match between Olympique Lyon and Bayern München at Groupama Stadium (Photo: GettyImages)
Ellie Carpenter of Lyonin action during the UEFA Women's Champions League group D match between Olympique Lyon and Bayern München at Groupama Stadium (Photo: GettyImages)

Lyon found the equaliser minutes after the half-time break when a free-kick was unable to be cleared by Bayern and Janice Cayman poked it home.  

It looked as if both sides would have to settle for the draw before Amandine Henry found Lyon's second in the 85th minute to seal a 2-1 win. 

Lyon and Bayern will meet yet again in the UWCL in next week's action.

Bayern v Lyon 
Date: Thursday, November 18
Kick-off: 7:00 am AEDT

The other Group D fixture saw Dylan Holmes' BK Häcken look for their first win in the UWCL group stage against Benfica. 

Benfica looked the most likely to score, winning a free-kick just outside the box in the 50th minute, however, Häcken's keeper Jennifer Falk kept the game at a deadlock with a diving save. 

With just 15 minutes to go, Stine Larsen looked to be away on goal, before being brought down in the box by a Benfica defender. 

Elin Rubensson stepped up to the spot to and scored the lone goal of the encounter, getting Häcken off the mark in the group stage and securing their first win.

Holmes was an unused substitute on the bench. 

Häcken now host Benfica in a week's time and will be hoping to secure back-to-back wins. 

Häcken v Benfica 
Date: Thursday, November 18
Kick-off: 4:45 am AEDT