USWNT’s Macario scores in return, Chelsea debut

Nathalie Björn, Mayra Ramírez and Catarina Macario all netted their first Women’s Super League goals for Chelsea as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday to go back to the top of the table, above Manchester City on goal difference.

The goal was a big one for United States forward Macario, who was making her Chelsea debut and return from an ACL injury that had kept her out since her former club team Lyon’s final game of the 2021-22 campaign.

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Macario had originally hoped to be back sooner, but ended up missing more than 20 months, including the USWNT’s participation in the Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Sweden defender Bjorn, who joined the Blues from Everton in January, broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after Leicester failed to clear a corner, hooking a shot back across the goal and over the head of keeper Lize Kop to make it 1-0.

Ramirez, another January arrival, added the second in the 44th minute with a brilliant solo effort, winning the ball in her own half and running half the length of the field before coolly rounding Kop and slotting the ball home.

Winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd added a third before the Brazil-born Macario came off the bench to round out the scoring.

Chelsea moved back to the summit on 37 points thanks to a three-goal cushion over Manchester City, who beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday.

Information from Reuters was used in this story.