by Chelsea took a first-goal lead in their Champions League quarter-final with a controlled victory over Ajax in front of a record Dutch women’s football crowd of 35,991.
After Arsenal’s stunning 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Friday night, this explosive performance was a well-managed one, with Lauren James scoring the first and Sjoeke Nüsken scoring twice, mirroring Friday night’s , as Chelsea got the fifth. wins in 16 days – five games in eight in March.
Related: Ajax 0-3 Chelsea: Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg – live
“I told the players at the end that he was very professional in everything,” said manager Emma Hayes.
Chelsea were unchanged from the team that lost to Arsenal in the league, with Nüsken partnering James up top again. Nüsken played at center back in the previous game, against Everton. “You see, not only does she belong on the big stage, but she’s a person, no matter where she plays, she’s going to be just as good,” said Hayes of Nüsken. “She plays as a No. 8 she’s just as good, she plays as a center half she’s just as good. In fact, I might give her a back-to-back next week to test it out.”
For the home side, Kay-Lee de Sanders partnered 18-year-old Isa Kardinaal at the back with the suspended Sherida Spitse, while 16-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, Tiny Hoekstra and Rosa van Gool returned to the starting XI after. being rested for the team’s 5-1 win against Jong Ajax in the Dutch cup in midweek.
Hayes said his team knew how good Ajax were – this was a team that earned home wins over Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Roma at the Johan Cruyff Arena to book their place in the play-offs. quarter final. The manager said before the game that Chelsea “of course won’t go into the game with our eyes closed”, but they took their time to get going and Ajax went close in the seventh minute, with new club record goal scorer Romée Leuchter struck. an attempt from the base of the post by Hannah Hampton hit.
Yohannes became the first 16-year-old in a Champions League quarter-final since Chelsea’s Jess Carter, who was at the same age – and stage – for Birmingham City against Arsenal in 2014, but a challenge it was for Guro Reiten. with her going in the book, ensuring she misses the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
Chelsea dominated despite the nervy early going, with 59% possession in the first half and 24 attacks to Ajax’s four and they took advantage inside 20 minutes. Ajax were unlucky, when the ball took a deflection to fall into the path of James behind them and the forward put it in. The flag was up but James was clearly on the other end and, after a VAR check, the technical was introduced for the lay-off. stage, the goal was given.
Eight-time Women’s Champions League winners Lyon came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1 in Lisbon in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
The French league leaders are unbeaten in that competition and in the Champions League this season but needed a second-half turnaround to maintain that record. Benfica were playing their first game in the last eight, and Andreia Faria gave them the lead in the 43rd minute after intercepting a stray pass on the halfway line and running through unchallenged.
France forward Delphine Cascarino equalized in the 63rd minute and German midfielder Sara Dabritz headed home a cross from United States captain Lindsay Horan for the winner in the 79th.
The second game will be played on March 27.
Chelsea thought they had doubled their advantage when Reiten headed home James’ cross, saw the ball come off her heel and fell kindly for her to tackle. the line.
After the check Hayes’ side were two goals down within a minute of the restart. Kadeisha Buchanan’s superb Cruyff turn was followed by a defense-splitting pass that found Reiten and the forward swung in from the left to head home Nüsken from close range.
The first half was uneventful but Chelsea added a third in the 83rd minute when substitute Catarina Macario headed Nüsken in from close range.
Ajax were battling to reduce the deficit ahead of their trip to London next week, but were unable to find the back of the net, giving them a mountain to climb away from home. “As we say in the Netherlands: the ball is round so anything can happen,” Ajax manager Suzanne Bakker said of her chances in the goal game.
Hayes warned against complacency in the second phase. “It’s only part time,” she said. “Often when you go away, you win games like this, the brain becomes a bit relaxed, you go home and you see the opposite… I think we need to heed the warning and share that experience with him the players.”
