<\/p>\n
Catarina Macario ended 20 months of injury hell by netting five minutes into her long-awaited Chelsea debut to cap a 4-0 victory over Leicester for the Women\u2019s Super League leaders.<\/p>\n
Emma Hayes\u2019 side, who went back ahead of Manchester City on goal difference, were already 3-0 up in the 73rd minute when Macario took to the pitch for the first time since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in June 2022, beaming all the way.<\/p>\n
It was smiles all round soon after as she latched on to Aggie Beever-Jones\u2019 pass in the box and finished sharply to finally make her mark as a Blues player.<\/p>\n
Her goal was the cherry on the cake after strikes from Nathalie Bjorn, a first in the WSL from the dominant Mayra Ramirez and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.<\/p>\n
Chelsea came out at lightning pace, going close within 10 seconds of kick-off when Guro Reiten broke away and forced a save at the far post and again when Jelena Cankovic\u2019s header needed a brave block from Josie Green.<\/p>\n
A brief injury break allowed the hosts to regroup, with Jutta Rantala to the fore as she twice cut in from the right wing to work Hannah Hampton.<\/p>\n
\nWhat a signing. \ud83d\udd25#CFCW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tpQiOtDhRU<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The second effort was beaten back out into the danger area and should have been finished by Yuka Momiki, who slotted wide when well set.<\/p>\n
The deadlock was broken from a Chelsea corner in the 38th minute, Leicester failing to clear as the ball bounced inside their area.<\/p>\n
Bjorn\u2019s reactions were sharper, stretching to hook over the melee and somehow deceive Green, who ducked under an attempted clearance on the line.<\/p>\n
Emboldened by the lead, Ramirez began to put the frighteners on her opponents.<\/p>\n
\nA message from @CatarinaMacario<\/a>. \ud83e\udd79 pic.twitter.com\/7eJPtCekAD<\/a><\/p>\n