Chelsea Ladies have secured a quarter-final spot within the Ladies’s Champions League after they got here from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 of their ultimate league section sport, ending third within the desk.
It should see the Blues keep away from a play-off in mid-February, permitting an ease of their busy fixture schedule. They’ll discover out their potential opponents within the ultimate eight when the draw for the knockout rounds is made on Thursday (12pm).
Chelsea started the night in third too, however their spot within the high 4 – which ensured a direct entry into the quarters – was below risk early on as Wolfsburg capitalised on a dominant spell.
Livia Peng’s tried clearance was tapped into Alexandra Popp’s path. She turned previous Keira Walsh earlier than sending a low, arduous shot previous the goalkeeper.
Each side continued to commerce blows, though Wolfsburg had the higher openings. Lucy Bronze twice stored Chelsea within the sport together with her defending too – she cleared Lineth Beerensteyn’s effort off the road earlier than a well-timed deal with contained in the field stored Kessya Bussy from placing.
Then, moments later, she equalised on the different finish, nodding residence Erin Cuthbert’s nook simply earlier than half-time.
Chelsea had extra management after the break, and pushed for the winner from the restart, with Alyssa Thompson hitting the publish earlier than Cuthbert was denied by Stina Johannes.
Sam Kerr made certain of the three factors within the sixty fourth minute. She was unmarked on the close to publish to nod residence a cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd, scoring her twentieth Champions League objective for Chelsea.
Alexandra Popp celebrates her opening objective towards Chelsea
Wolfsburg didn’t make it a simple end both. In 5 minutes of added time, Janou Ranges smashed an effort onto the highest of the crossbar with Peng overwhelmed, however they may not discover the equaliser they needed.
The consequence nonetheless sees Wolfsburg into the knockout rounds, however they end in ninth by some extent. It means they are going to be unseeded for Thursday’s draw, and they’ll face both Actual Madrid or Juventus.
Bronze: A tricky sport that was pleasurable to play in
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze chatting with Disney Plus: “You put the work in now in the first half of the season and I think it saves you a little bit in the second half.
“It was undoubtedly a troublesome sport at the moment, one among our hardest within the Champions League. Coming right here to Wolfsburg has by no means been simple.
“Someone said it is the first time an English team has actually won here, so that’s a good record to have finally cracked. Overall a really tough game. Both teams went really strong until the end and it was quite enjoyable to play in.”
What are the Champions League key dates?
The draw for the knockout section, quarter-finals and semi-finals will probably be made on December 18 at 12pm GMT.
Knockout section play-offs
- First leg: February 11/12
- Second leg: February 18/19
Quarter-finals
- First leg: March 24/25
- Second leg: April 1/2
Semi-finals
- First leg: April 25/26
- Second leg: Could 2/3
Ultimate
Could 23 on the Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
