Kerr hits hat-trick as Chelsea beat Paris FC

Sam Kerr is the first player to score three goals in this season's group stages of the Women's Champions League

Sam Kerr scored a brilliant hat-trick to fire Chelsea past Paris FC in the Women's Champions League group stage at Stamford Bridge.

Kerr was teed up by Lauren James' superb pass in the first half before poking in Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's cross after the break.

She completed her hat-trick with an audacious looping chip from outside the box in the 55th minute and substitute Sophie Ingle added a fourth goal in stoppage time.

Paris FC had created several dangerous chances and had levelled after 38 minutes thanks to Thea Greboval's header.

Chelsea's sloppiness in possession appeared to frustrate manager Hayes, particularly in the first half, but the hosts improved as the match wore on and were boosted by the introduction of substitute Fran Kirby.

The England forward was heavily involved in the build-up to Kerr's second goal and played a superb through ball later on which the Australian striker dragged uncharacteristically wide.

Paris FC's Mathilde Bourdieu and Julie Dufour were denied by smart saves from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, while substitute Louise Fleury squandered a chance in the second half as Chelsea held on for a victory they were made to work for.

It leaves Hayes' side two points behind Group D leaders BK Hacken, who beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Thursday's earlier match.

Reaction to Thursday's Women's Champions League

Chelsea made to work but Kerr delivers again

Having drawn their opening match, Chelsea knew winning at home would be crucial to their bid to secure a top-two spot in the group and progress to the knockout stages.

They performed superbly at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, thumping Liverpool 5-1 in the Women's Super League with a hat-trick from James.

But they did not start with the same fluidity on Thursday against a well-organised, high-pressing Paris FC side.

The visitors - debutants in the group stages - had already shown their pedigree with victories over Arsenal and last season's runners-up Wolfsburg in the qualifying rounds.

And they had the game's first chance, gifted to Mathilde Bourdieu after Chelsea had given the ball away inside their own half, but the striker's effort was straight at Berger.

An unmarked James then had a glorious opportunity to put Chelsea ahead against the run of play, but she skied her effort over the bar - causing Hayes to throw her arms in the air in frustration.

The England forward, who was scintillatingly good against Liverpool, made up for her miss 10 minutes later when her curling pass picked out Kerr for the opener.

But Greboval's looping header, which beat both Berger and defender Jess Carter on the goalline, meant Chelsea had work to do when they returned for the second half.

Hayes wasted no time in bringing on Kirby and she delivered for her USA-bound manager, splitting open Paris FC's stubborn defence with some excellent passing and using her movement to find spaces in the middle.

The ever-dependable Kerr was on Kirby's wavelength and put away her chances to seal the win, before Ingle's well-taken strike from a corner capped the win.

It was a comfortable result in the end for Chelsea but there were moments of concern which they will need to rectify if they are to deliver this trophy for Hayes - the only one she is yet to win with the club - before she leaves to take over the USA women's team in May.