Chelsea were knocked out of the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday after failing to overturn a 3-1 aggregate deficit to Arsenal, despite winning 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final. The Blues set the bar too high after their defeat at the Emirates Stadium last week, and their lack of efficiency in front of goal is at the origin of this new European failure.
Sonia Bompastor’s team got off to a flying start to get back into the game. A perfect pass from Erin Cuthbert to Ellie Carpenter on the wing allowed the right-back to cross for Sjoeke Nusken, but her shot went just wide of the post in the 7th minute. Alyssa Thompson also came close to scoring twice later in the first half, with a shot that went wide after a bounce at the edge of the box, then a powerful shot that went over after a spill down the left.
After the break, Sam Kerr forced Daphne van Domselaar into the first of many spectacular saves after Nusken had opened Arsenal’s lead with a pass through the middle of the field.
With around 10 minutes remaining, Arsenal thought they had sealed the fate of the game when Stina Blackstenius scored with a powerful header, but her goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. Chelsea immediately went on the attack again and almost scored when Nusken saw his header go inches past the post, before Lauren James saw her shot blocked by Van Domselaar and Veerle Buurman failed to convert the rebound from close range.
Van Domselaar then added another incredible save to his tally by fingertip deflecting a powerful Nusken header onto the post, but Nusken finally broke Arsenal’s resistance 90 seconds from time with a low strike from Kerr’s back cross. It proved too little too late, however, as Bompastor received a red card in the final seconds for protest and the Blues were eliminated.
GOAL note the Chelsea players after a thrilling evening at Stamford Bridge…
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