Malard scores on debut as Chelsea beat Birmingham 2-0
Chelsea beat Birmingham City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 19 September 2026, with Melvine Malard scoring on her WSL debut. The win came in the Women's Super League, England's top division of women's football. BBC
Lexi Potter gave Chelsea the lead. Chelsea FC Malard then came off the bench and added the second within 10 minutes of coming on. Yahoo Sports
It was not a quick one-two. Chelsea's two goals were spaced out by almost an hour. Chelsea FC That tells the story of the afternoon. Patience first. Then daylight.
Malard started the day among the substitutes. She was named on the bench alongside Nathalie Bjorn and Naomi Girma, with all three having returned to fitness. Chelsea FC For a new signing, that is a careful way back. Ten minutes was all she needed.
Chelsea signed the France forward from Manchester United on a four-year contract in July. Reuters Strikers are judged on goals. Debut goals settle nerves fast. This one will have helped her feel at home in blue.
The game kicked off at 12.45pm at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea FC It came early in an expanded 14-team WSL season kicking off in September 2026. Reuters More teams means more tests, and home form matters.
What makes this stand out is the timing. A debutant scoring so quickly off the bench lifts a crowd. It also gives her manager a simple option next week: start her, or keep her as the finisher who changes a game.
