Chelsea boosted their hopes of securing a maiden European crown after advancing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League – the place they may face or Manchester United.
All three English sides had already secured no less than a play-off place for the knockout levels and had been seeking to safe a top-four end to ensure computerized qualification for the final eight.
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On a goal-laden night throughout the competitors, solely , who are actually unbeaten in 24 consecutive group-stage or league-phase video games within the Champions League after securing a 2-1 victory away at Wolfsburg, had been profitable of their mission.
It was one thing of an announcement victory for Sonia Bompastor’s facet, who turned the primary English group to beat the German outfit on their very own turf.
They’d solely received two of their previous 10 earlier conferences in opposition to the two-time European winners, however Sam Kerr’s second-half header proved the distinction on an evening when she turned the primary Australian within the competitors to attain 20 Champions League objectives.
It was, although, removed from plain-sailing. They discovered themselves on the again foot early on when Alexandra Popp put the hosts forward with a medical end earlier than Lucy Bronze dragged Chelsea again into the competition, clearing Kessya Bussy’s shot off the road earlier than heading in Erin Cuthbert’s nook. Kerr’s second-half header sealed a memorable win.
Lucy Bronze headed in Chelsea’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time – Reuters/Lisi Niesner
“It was undoubtedly a tricky recreation in the present day, certainly one of our hardest within the Champions League. Coming right here to Wolfsburg has by no means been straightforward,” Bronze informed Paramount.
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“Somebody stated it’s the first time an English group has truly received right here. In order that’s document to have lastly cracked. Total a extremely robust recreation. Each groups went actually robust till the tip and it was fairly gratifying to play in.”
Arsenal’s commanding 3-0 victory over OH Leuven means they are going to be seeded fifth within the playoffs, whereas Manchester United shall be sixth after securing a 1-0 win away at Juventus. Ought to both progress to the final eight, certainly one of them is assured to play Chelsea.
Beth Mead scored Arsenal’s second in a 3-0 win over OH Leuven – Getty Pictures/Alex Burstow
Arsenal’s journey in Europe has been removed from easy this season and every week on since stories of a fractured dressing room surfaced, their morale-boosting 3-0 win over OH Leuven – who they may meet once more within the playoffs – may hardly have been extra well timed.
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Olivia Smith scored her first Champions League objective when she bundled in a rebound after driving at Leuven’s defence, earlier than Beth Mead’s left-footed curling effort doubled the Gunners’ lead earlier than the break. Caitlin Foord’s low shot put the sport past doubt.
Elsewhere, will take enormous confidence from their 1-0 over Juventus as Marc Skinner’s facet continued their debut Champions League marketing campaign in wonderful trend. Jess Park’s beautiful curling effort was sufficient to safe a sixth-seeded spot as United resisted waves of strain late on from the Italian outfit.
Jess Park (centre) celebrates together with her Manchester United team-mates after scoring in opposition to Juventus – Reuters/Alberto Lingria
The draw for the final eight will happen on Friday at midday and every last-eight tie will happen over two legs.