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ALLIANZ STADIUM — If this was a night for the A-Leagues’ best to test themselves against one of the finest club sides in the world, you’d have to say it made it three from three for local clubs acquitting themselves well against their more illustrious opponents over this Sydney Super Cup. Like the men before them, though, they also got a glimpse of the level, as the eight-time Women’s Super League outfit ultimately cruised to a 3-0 win. The English giants, adapting to life without Sam Kerr but with Matildas superstar Ellie Carpenter as one of their big names, came out of the blocks and raced to a 2-0 lead at Allianz Stadium, and while the locals settled the game down for the rest of the half, they spent the second stanza largely camped absorbing wave after wave from a Chelsea side with near 80% of the ball. The Women’s Super League powerhouse put on an early show, Alyssa Thompson surging down the left before Sandy Baltimore swept an exquisite strike into the far corner. The 26-year-old France flyer was a menace all half, although Karly Roestbakken started to come to grips with her as the game settled. What a strike from Sandy Baltimore! 🔥 The French international gives @chelseafcw an early lead against the Ninja @aleagues All-Stars with a brilliant goal! ✨ Watch live and exclusive on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/4IgSENPzqK Before then, though, the Blues went 2-0 up when Sjoeke Nusken latched onto a loose ball in the box and swivelled a shot that squeezed past Courtney Newbon. Sjoeke Nüsken makes it two for The Blues with a brilliant half-volley 💥 It's been a strong start from eight-time WSL Champions @ChelseaFCW, continuing where they left off in Auckland 💪 Watch live and exclusive on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/olFhSzXmF5 Another sign of the level of the opponent was the quality they brought off the bench. 19-year-old Lexi Potter came on and slotted a sublime third, the least they deserved for their second half dominance. That it took that long to find a third is a nod to the way the A-League outfit adapted and defended – with a couple of moments to remember, like Angie Beard nutmegging Lauren James, or Aideen Keane taking it to Lucy Bronze. Lexi Potter picks out the top corner with PERFECTION to seal a 3-0 win for The Blues! 💫 Only 19-years-old, what a strike from the @ChelseaFCW academy graduate! 🎓 Watch Chelsea against the Ninja @aleaguewomen All-Stars live and exclusive on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/Jrj2lHKoLz “It’s amazing to bring some of that European football culture out here, and to see the fans in the stands,” All Stars skipper Tameka Yallop said on Paramount. “For us to come together with a week of training is a credit to Jeff (Hopkins) and the girls for all coming together and enjoying the experience.” Seeing Matildas superstar Carpenter, who broke onto these stages as a 15-year-old baby in the old W-League, in Chelsea blue, touring back in Sydney with a global juggernaut, was something to embrace, a sign of the global opportunity in women’s football, and the heights Australians can reach. Still only 26 now, here as a bona fide global superstar, she’s been the face of the tour, speaking, performing and playing like a global star with full awareness of her stage. When she was 15, these crowds, or even this concept, would have been something to behold. Indeed, this is a gallery these A-League stars would crave week in, week out. But the goalposts have moved and the last time this concept was played, the All Stars were edged 1-0 by Arsenal in front of 42, 000 fans in Melbourne in a post season clash. Allianz Stadium was hardly half full for this one. 2024 were heady days, in the afterglow of the Women’s World Cup, a halo Carpenter spoke so eloquently about yesterday that the game, and the country now needs to rediscover. There might be a little less attention, and a few more empty seats in the stands, but like we often write about, it warrants more because the quality on show was no different tonight. Sonia Bompastor rolled out a side glittering with talent, from English superstars Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones to new recruit Katie McCabe to a left side of Alyssa Thompson and Sandy Baltimore that simply sizzled. But, after the Blues surged to an ominous 2-0 lead within 12 minutes, Jeff Hopkins’ side found their feet, came to grips with a surprise formation with a back three from Chelsea, which saw Carpenter way up the park and a constant menace, and turned the friendly into a more balanced contest – all with the context of being together for a mere seven days, smack bang in the middle of an impossibly long off-season, with many of the players spending time training solo to keep fit for this contest before linking with the squad. That contrast, compared to the contingent travelling with the touring juggernaut, was stark. At a time these A-League stars are calling for full-time professionalism, they’ve taken on the might of Chelsea in the middle of an off-season where none of them have been playing themselves. Despite Chelsea continuing to practice a high press, the local outfit didn’t panic. In fact, Matildas midfielder Leticia McKenna should have hit the target 25 minutes in after a cutback from Aideen Keane down the left fell gloriously in her path. No surprise that Keane was played in behind by Tameka Yallop, who won a loose pass in midfield. The Brisbane Roar legend, who just signed with Wellington, was wearing the armband and led from the front, latching onto a 35th minute header, before fullback Angie Beard did exactly what the crowd came to see, the local outfit take it to the glamorous rivals, with a cheeky nutmeg to surge past James. “That’s dirty from Angie Beard and she’ll love that – she knew exactly what she was doing,” commentator Grace Gill beamed in commentary. McKenna and Keane started to ask a few more questions of Sjoeke Nusken and Wieke Kaptein in the middle of the park and there was a bit of a reprieve for Newbon in goal. But the second stanza saw wave after wave from Bompastor’s side, who had the luxury of bringing Keira Walsh off the bench, to an immediate impact. Hopkins was able to unload his bench as well, giving young A-League talents like Pia Vlok and Talia Younis a taste of this level, but ultimately it was Chelsea’s teenage sensation Potter who sealed the final highlight of the night.