Women 3 – 1 Chelsea Women – Match Report

We gave ourselves a two-goal advantage in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals in Tuesday’s first leg against Chelsea, making it 10 wins in a row in all competitions.

Stina Blackstenius headed us in front before Chloe Kelly scored a screamer from distance to double our lead.

Lauren James pulled one back for the visitors, but Alessia Russo buried our third with aplomb.

FIRST HALF

But it was the away side who began the brightest, Lucy Bronze sending Alyssa Thompson down the right and her cross deflecting onto the post by way of Katie McCabe.

Sandy Baltimore then fired wide of the bottom right, before Chelsea struck the woodwork again as James cannoned another shot off the post.

We had our first sight of goal in the 18th minute, when Beth Mead played it through to Blackstenius and she managed to get a shot away, but Hannah Hampton closed the angle to make the save.

The Chelsea goalkeeper could do little about our next effort though. Four minutes later, Katie McCabe’s inswinging free-kick was headed into the bottom left by Blackstenius.

Russo’s cross was then met first time by Blackstenius but her low cushioned effort was straight at Hampton, and it was down a very different route to goal that we found our second.

Receiving the ball from Mead, Kelly took a touch to move the ball back in from the left before leathering it past Hampton and into the bottom right from at least 25 yards out, before knee sliding in front of our supporters in the wind and rain.

Chelsea did have the ball in the back of the net with half-time approaching after a Baltimore free-kick, but the goal was ruled out as the referee spotted a foul on Laia Codina.

SECOND HALF

We made one change at half-time, Taylor Hinds coming on for Codina and McCabe shifting across to centre-back.

There was a good opportunity for a third as Kelly found Russo, who created an opening, but shot straight at Hampton, and Blackstenius’ follow-up shot was blocked.

For our second change, Olivia Smith came on for Kelly with half an hour to play.

Chelsea found a way back into the game in the 66th minute, James picking out the top left corner from long range.

We were back to two in front in the 76th minute as McCabe did really well to get the ball forward despite being on the ground, then Blackstenius set it up for Russo, who provided a brilliant finish into the bottom left for 3-1!

Frida Maanum and Smilla Holmberg were then introduced with Blackstenius and Mead making way.

James tried her luck again from distance in the 89th minute but on that occasion Anneke Borbe was able to get down and parry it past the post.

Chelsea bundled the ball across the line from a late James corner but the referee again felt the goal wasn’t scored fairly, ruling it out for a foul on Borbe. We then made our final change with Victoria Pelova replacing Mariona Caldentey.

WHAT’S NEXT

The north London derby returns to Emirates Stadium, where we take on Tottenham Hotspur in a 5.30pm kick-off in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Saturday, March 28. Don’t miss out!

The second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals takes place at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, April 1. That’s going to be another 8pm kick-off and tickets are on general sale to away supporters!