Chelsea women
against VfL Wolfsburg Ladies. Quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
Ferenc Szusza Stadium.
Chelsea will take a narrow lead in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next week in Budapest after Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder’s goals won 2-1. Dominique Janssen scores an away goal from the penalty spot
Pernille Harder scored against her former club when Chelsea scored a 2-1 lead over Wolfsburg in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Wolfsburg had to regret the missed opportunities when Chelsea took the lead in the 55th minute thanks to a clever connection game between Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr with the Australian goal.
However, Dominique Janssen scored an important away goal from the penalty spot 20 minutes before the end.
Chelsea: Berger (8), Bright (6), Ingle (6), Andersson (7), Eriksson (7), Charles (7), Leupolz (6), Ji (6), Kirby (7), Kerr (7 )), Hardener (7).
Subs: Riding (6), Cuthbert (6).
Wolfsburg: Kiedrzynek (6), Hendrich (6), Doorsoun (6), Oberdorf (7), Janssen (6), Huth (7), Popp (7), Rauch (6), Rolfo (7), Engen (6 )), Pajor (7).
Subs: Jakabfi (6), Blomqvist (6).
Player of the Match: Ann-Katrin Berger.
The Germans reached the final last year and have history with Emma Hayes’ side after knocking Chelsea out of competition for three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2016, but the Blues go into the second leg with a narrow advantage.
Wolfsburg wanted to get on the forefoot after the whistle and had the ball in the back of the net, but it went into the hand of Alexandra Popp, who was shown a yellow card. </ Chelsea goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger kept the goal level in the second half, initially with a save from Firdolina Rolfo before the ball fell on Ewa Pajor, whose attempted overhead kick by Jonna Andersson off the line was cleared.
Wolfsburg started the second half in the same way as the first. Pajor headed a Svenja Huth cross into goal, only to bounce off the woodwork.
Chelsea took the lead against Kerr, with the Australian rounding the goalkeeper before shooting home from a tight angle after hitting off form-strong Kirby was found.
Pernille Harder started against her former team for Chelsea, while Sophie Ingle stood in for Erin Cuthbert in midfield. It was the same front three and back five that beat Everton in Chelsea’s last WSL encounter.
Berger flew to save to keep her side forward, with a close reaction stop to steer Rolfo’s volley over the bar .
Harder doubled Chelsea’s advantage over the club they left for a record fee in the summer and took advantage of a defensive error when they tried to play him off from behind.
Wolfsburg retired after a hasty challenge from captain Magda Eriksson to Huth from the penalty spot, which could turn out to be an important away goal.
Janssen stepped forward and fired the ball into the top corner, so that Berger had no chance to increase her saved penalty number for the tournament. The German saved three times in the preliminary round against Atletico Madrid on two legs.
Berger suffered an injury in the last few moments and had to be treated, but was able to continue.
« Chelsea were very lucky to go goalless at halftime but then they were very good at getting their bodies on the line. Wolfsburg were up there early in the second half, but Chelsea’s opener against the run of the game turned the momentum back. » in their favor.
« Their confidence was back and they looked like a different team and scored the second goal. Wolfsburg pulled one back from the penalty spot and Chelsea had to hold out to the goal but we thank them for that they got their job done. «
Chelsea will be at Aston Villa’s home in the Women’s Super League at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Next Wednesday they will meet Wolfsburg again in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in Budapest.
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