UEFA Girls’s Champions League
Chelsea (2) 1 – 0 (3) Arsenal FT
Arsenal wish to win their third Girls’s Champions League title [Getty Images]
Holders Arsenal held on to safe an mixture victory over rivals Chelsea and attain the Girls’s Champions League semi-finals – regardless of conceding a late objective to Sjoeke Nusken.
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Renee Slegers’ aspect – 3-1 up from the primary leg of their quarter-final – produced a mature show at Stamford Bridge regardless that they ended up dropping on the night time.
The guests had a objective disallowed late on as Smilla Holmberg was offside earlier than teeing up Stina Blackstenius to move in from shut vary, and Beth Mead struck the put up in stoppage time.
That got here throughout a frantic interval wherein Gunners keeper Daphne van Domselaar made two spectacular late saves on the different finish – the primary to beat away a Lauren James shot earlier than Veerle Buurman turned the follow-up towards the put up, after which to push a Nusken header on to the identical upright.
Nusken ultimately scored within the fourth minute of stoppage time to go however Chelsea – who wanted to attain twice to deliver the groups stage – couldn’t discover the victory they wanted.
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And in a frantic end, Chelsea supervisor Sonia Bompastor was despatched off – as she vented her anger at a hair-pull on Alyssa Thompson by Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, who acquired solely a yellow card.
After their first-leg win at Emirates Stadium final week, the European champions had been in a robust place.
Understanding Chelsea wanted to attain, Arsenal largely defended properly because the hosts tried to claw again the deficit on a irritating night in London.
The Blues had possibilities earlier than the late flurry – USA worldwide Thompson had the perfect of them within the first half, whereas Sam Kerr got here shut after the break – however they did not capitalise.
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It caps a superb few weeks for the Gunners, who’ve gained 10 of their previous 11 matches in all competitions and are unbeaten since January.
They face a semi-final towards Lyon or Wolfsburg, who play their second leg on Thursday, with the German aspect main 1-0 on mixture.
Arsenal evaluation: Gunners survive chaotic finish
Having earned a two-goal lead at Emirates Stadium final week, Arsenal knew the onus was on Chelsea to come back at them within the second leg – and had been joyful to allow them to strive.
They anticipated an early storm and Chelsea did threaten for the opening quarter-hour, nevertheless it was not sufficient to rattle Arsenal, who regarded composed and assured all through the primary half.
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The defending champions saved their cool and took the sting out of the the primary half, irritating Chelsea by slowing down the tempo and controlling midfield.
Slegers would have been delighted at half-time as Chelsea’s gamers trudged down the tunnel having probably not bought a foothold within the recreation, regardless of creating a couple of possibilities.
England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy was a rock on the again, taming Chelsea’s gifted entrance three for giant spells, whereas Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert was marked out of the sport.
However because the clock ticked on, Chelsea’s desperation grew and Arsenal had been underneath heavy stress to keep up their clear sheet.
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Kerr compelled a elegant save from goalkeeper Van Domselaar, earlier than Nusken ultimately bought one objective again deep in stoppage time.
Chaos adopted as Chelsea boss Bompastor couldn’t comprise her frustration, despatched off after receiving a second yellow card.
Arsenal, although, delivered simply in regards to the excellent gameplan and can go into the semi-finals filled with confidence.
Their home type has lifted them to 3rd within the Girls’s Tremendous League with two video games in hand – placing them in a robust place to qualify for subsequent season’s Girls’s Champions League.
Nonetheless, their focus is on defending their crown this 12 months – and their semi-final opponents won’t take pleasure in going through them.
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Chelsea evaluation: Rivals deal final blow
With the WSL title past their attain, Chelsea’s season has rapidly unravelled, and this was a crushing blow dealt by their London rivals.
Strain has constructed round supervisor Bompastor and the membership, and this newest setback will solely improve that exterior noise.
Nonetheless, there was no disgrace in Chelsea’s Champions League exit. They confronted considered one of Europe’s most gifted squads and struggled with an injury-depleted squad.
Bompastor’s aspect tried all the things at Stamford Bridge – hitting the put up by means of Buurman late on in a frantic ending, after Kerr had examined goalkeeper Van Domselaar on a number of events.
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The French supervisor lived each emotion and it bought the higher of her in stoppage time as one other criticism to the officers earned her a purple card and she or he stormed down the tunnel, figuring out the tie was over.
Bompastor has constantly known as for extra squad depth – and they’re going to want a summer time rebuild.
With Arsenal having developed into considered one of Europe’s main golf equipment, and Manchester Metropolis wanting set to clinch the WSL title, Chelsea know they can’t afford to drop behind.
What’s subsequent for each groups?
Chelsea tackle Tottenham within the quarter-finals of the Girls’s FA Cup on Monday, 6 April (13:30 BST) and return to WSL motion towards Everton on Sunday, 26 April (12:00 BST).
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Arsenal host Brighton of their FA Cup match on Sunday, 5 April (13:00 BST), earlier than travelling to Aston Villa within the WSL on Sunday, 26 April (14:15 BST).