Julius OkorieChelsea delivered a scintillating performance on Thursday to hit the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League, overturning Manchester City’s 2-0 first leg advantage in the process.
The Blue ladies feat is coming hours after Arsenal did the same against Real Madrid.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSonia Bompastor’s side, were pained by their 2-0 defeat in Manchester last week, It was their only defeat of this campaign and it was apparent they were ready to fight to the finish to remedy the situation.
Three goals before half-time left no one in doubt Chelsea were in for serious business. The signs were there as Chelsea hit the post twice before getting their first. First, Nathalie Bjorn struck the woodwork, then Lucy Bronze curled one onto the post – but on that second occasion, Sandy Baltimore was there to rifle home into the far corner.
City tried to respond with Mary Fowler testing Hannah Hampton twice in rare chances – but the barrage on the City goal continued. Bjorn had an identical chance cleared off the line by Vivianne Miedema, but she would not be denied a third time.
The Swedish defender rose highest from a third corner in a row to nod past Khiera Keating unmarked. And for a stunned and outfought City, it only got even worse before half-time.
The victory has seen Chelsea set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with holders Barceona who made a statement, smashing Wolfsburg 10-2 on aggregate earlier on the night. “We have all the quality to go all the way. Barcelona have a lot of talent it will be a tough game,” said the Chelsea head coach after full-time.
Semi-final first legs will be played on the weekend of April 19/20 with the second legs billed for April 26/27
But both Women’s Super League teams this week have shown the resilience required to break the Barcelona-Lyon dual domination in this tournament.
It took 21 years for a team to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals. Arsenal and Chelsea managed it twice in two days.
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“What a special night in front of our fans. After the first leg I knew we could do it. It’s something to say, and then you have to turn words into action. I’m so proud of my players. They had a great performance and we deserved to go through.
“In football, when you are live, everything becomes possible. I told my players we’re having a great season and we didn’t have this scenario where we have to come back, but tonight we had to create memories and the girls did that. They believed it was possible and put it all out there.
“This one is a special one. This is why football is magic. I made my plan wrong because I said we had to score three goals in 90 minutes and we did it in 45. If we play that way we are a really, really good team,” enthused Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor.
As for Man City, coming up short against the almost perennial English champions, especially after a period of turmoil, is hardly a source of shame.
The Nick Cushing era will be judged by one thing, getting his beloved club back into the top three of the WSL so they can be competing for the Champions League next season.
No fewer than 10,769 spectators at the Stamford Bridge watched Chelsea zoom into the semis in style.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
