Chelsea Women beat Roma 2-0, with Ellie Carpenter scoring within six minutes of coming on as a substitute. BBC Sport then put the focus on Carpenter.
The change against Roma
Sonia Bompastor brought on Carpenter at half-time against Roma instead of a striker. Bompastor said: "I made the final decision and someone in my technical staff said: 'But we need to score, and you are bringing on a defensive player?'"
Bompastor said: "We laughed after the game because I said: 'Right now, she's scoring a lot of goals, so I don't know if she's a more defensive or attacking player!'"
Bompastor said: "It worked so it's good. I was confident Ellie would create a lot in the second half."
Carpenter's numbers this season
Carpenter has started all but one of Chelsea's Women's Super League matches this season and has scored four goals and provided one assist from a full-back or wing-back position. She has created 19 chances in the WSL this season, while her 141 successful passes in the final third are the most by any Chelsea player.
Only Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Victoria Pelova have had more touches in the opposition box than Carpenter's 56 this season. Only Manchester City winger Hemp and Tottenham's Drew Spence have created more chances from open play in the WSL than Carpenter.
Former England striker Ellen White said: "She has been brilliant this season and she has that attacking prowess."
Role and Bompastor's view
Carpenter arrived from Lyon in 2025 and had worked there with Bompastor, with the pair winning the Champions League together in 2022. This season Carpenter has become accustomed to the right wing-back position, while Lucy Bronze has been moving inside as part of a back three.
Bompastor thinks Carpenter has improved on being wasteful with her crosses. Bompastor said: "Ellie is performing at a really good level. She has goals from her left foot too which is unusual."
Bompastor said: "She is able to impact the game. The way we want to play as a team, she is really important out of possession and in possession."
Bompastor said: "In possession, she always has the mindset and mentality to go forward. She has a lot of pace and is improving a lot in terms of her technical aspects."
Bompastor said: "She is now able to deliver really good crosses, to be in the box and be clinical to score goals. I'm not sure she can have a bigger impact than what she is right now."
Chelsea's wider form
Chelsea are unbeaten and top of the Women's Super League table, with their only dropped points coming in their opening weekend draw with Aston Villa. They have conceded just four goals this season, the fewest of any WSL side, and Carpenter ranks second in the Chelsea squad for successful tackles made.
In Chelsea's 6-0 win at Charlton on Sunday, Carpenter scored in the 13th minute, won the most tackles with three and made the most ball recoveries with 12 of any Chelsea player. White said: "She has comfort behind her because she has trust in the other defenders and midfielders to give her the licence to go forward."
White said: "I love her celebrations too! Opposition teams target players who are most prolific, but Chelsea have four or five who can score from anywhere on the pitch."
