Thank you for joining me for the first leg of this tie. Chelsea have a commanding lead heading into the second leg next week thanks to goals from Sjoeke Nusken and Lauren James. You can catch up with all the action with the report below. I will be back to bring you more Women’s Champions League action tomorrow, until then have a good evening.
Ajax will be a dangerous team heading to Stamford Bridge as they will have nothing to lose, everything to gain in a match where most will expect Chelsea to close out the quarter-final. Can they overturn the deficit? It’ll be tricky but it isn’t impossible.
What it means:
This is cinema.#UWCL pic.twitter.com/W1i7XZv6En
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 19, 2024
The second quarter-final has just started between Benfica and Lyon, it should be a belter! It stands at 0-0 so far.
Not a bad few days for Sjoeke Nusken. She scored two against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on Friday against title rivals Arseanl and she bagged herself another two this evening in the Women’s Champions League. The midfielder is becoming really valuable for the Blues with the current injury crisis in the forwards. Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Mayra Ramirez are all out.
Will this be Chelsea’s year in the Women’s Champions League? Well they have to overcome Ajax first, the job is not done. The second leg of this tie is taking place next week. Whoever comes out the victor there will face the winners of the Barcelona Brann tie in the semis.
Here is Chelsea’s third:
IT'S A CHELSEA THIRD! Sjoeke Nüsken at the double for the blues. 🔵
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 19, 2024
Watch LIVE on https://t.co/hmF5i7LtAZ #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/2LsmfL6Xtf
Full time! Ajax 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea have one foot in the Champions League semi-final after recording a convincing 3-0 result in Amsterdam. Lauren James scored the opener and Sjoeke Nusken added the other two. Another leg to play but Chelsea are in control.
90 + 3 min: Ajax know how much of a difference a goal will make for their daunting second leg at Stamford Bridge and they are pushing for a score. They win a corner in the dying moments of this tie.
90 + 1 min: There will be three minutes of injury time.
89 min: Ajax make another change with Van Gool off for Noordman and Chelsea ring the subs with Ingle and Beever-Jones on for Charles and Leupolz. Ajax still on a pursuit for a goal here.
87 min: Leuchter was fed a beautiful ball with her in the perfect position but she can’t get it out from under her feet and Chelsea defenders swarm her – the chance is gone. The scoreline does not reflect Ajax’ performance tonight.
85 min: Macario puts in a great ball and Nusken heads home. Macario has scored in her other two substitute appearances following her recovery from her ACL injury, now she has an assist. Chelsea make another change with Cankovic on for Cuthbert.
GOAL! Ajax 0-3 Chelsea (Nusken, 83')
Macario with another goal involvement!
Updated
82 min: Chelsea have a good spell, it’s slickly threaded to Lawrence who makes a nuisance of herself but doesn’t do enough to win a corner from Keukelaar.
80 min: Leuchter wants to create a one-two but she isn’t on the same wavelength as her teammate and her pass just goes into acres of space, she raises her arms in frustration.
78 min: Van Gool takes the corner but it doesn’t reach a teammate. Ajax manage to keep the ball but Carter clears.
77 min: Nusken is dispossessed on the edge of the box and Ajax counter. Grant has a phenomenal run and Charles needs to concede a corner to stop her.
76 min: Lawrence and Macario straight into the action with the Canada international popping the ball in but Macario can’t quite get to it.
74 min: A lovely ball from Carter to Kaneryd. Nusken is fed the ball in the box and Chelsea continue to run it through the team. It eventually comes to Cuthbert but her attempt is over – it was a tricky ball for Cuthbert to convert at close range. Ajax make another change with Hoesktra off for Keukelaar. Chelsea make their first changes with James and Kaneryd off for Macario and Lawrence.
72 min: Hoekstra creates a great chance, she has a lightning run down the left and she crosses in a pinpoint ball but Chelsea manage to clear. Ajax are growing into this game but they need to score one back in this final 20 minutes. It is Chelsea though with the next chance after James got it into the box, Reiten takes a shot but it is blocked – she would have been offside regardless.
70 min: Ajax look to find Leuchter but Buchanan reads the play well and clears. Chelsea go through the team afterwards, there is a lovely one-two play between Nusken and Cuthbert, the Scotland international rifles off a shot but Van Eijk saves well.
68 min: There is the first change of the game for Ajax with Yohannes off for Van de Velde. Yohannes picked up a yellow card in the first half which means she will miss the reverse fixture of this tie – a blow for Ajax.
66 min: Both Reiten and James okay to continue, I am surprised Chelsea haven’t decided that is enough for James to sit out the rest of the match – she was properly clattered.
64 min: Reiten pops the ball into the area but it’s cleared, Chelsea manage to win it back and they have some lovely play in the box. It falls to Nusken but her effort is over the bar, Reiten’s hands go on her face in frustration. A few plays later James and Reiten accidentally clash, it looks like James got a knee to the face there.
62 min: Chelsea are taking the sting out of the game at the moment, frequently passing back to Hampton and happy to run down the clock in their own half.
Updated
60 min: Noordam is down here after an accidental clash with the referee, she is okay to continue.
59 min: The long passage of play for the hosts ends with Leuchter called offside. Chelsea have a spell on the ball afterwards and James works it to the edge of the area. She crosses it in and Reiten gets a shot but it is saved by Van Eijk.
57 min: Chelsea are starting to press now, they were laying back slightly when Ajax had the ball but they haven’t had sustained possession in a while and so they are hunting their opposition. It is the hosts who continue to press for a goal.
55 min: Ajax are doing much better at not letting any Chelsea player have space in this half, they are being suffocated when they have the ball right now.
53 min: Leuchter stands over the free kick and she goes for goal herself, her effort is well wide though.
52 min: Leupolz tackles Van Gool without the ball and so Ajax have a free kick in a good position.
Updated
51 min: The Ajax play ends in the ball rolling towards Hampton, the hosts have shown this promising play throughout the match but their execution in the final third has not been there yet.
49 min: Ajax having the lionshare of possession early in this second half, playing from the back but it is risky with Chelsea winning it. James gets into the box but she is dispossessed and Ajax counter. Hoekstra crosses in but Perisset blocks – really bright play from the hosts.
47 min: The mentality around a tie is so interesting, you can’t force play towards the end of a game where you may usually to try and win – a loose play from Ajax could see Chelsea pounce on a counter and then the tie is completely gone.
Updated
Back underway! Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
So can Ajax stage a comeback? Or will Chelsea take full control of this tie? All to come.
Here are the two goals so far:
Sjoeke Nüsken drives it home... full control for Chelsea! 💥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 19, 2024
Watch LIVE on https://t.co/hmF5i7LtAZ #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/UUCtlSDEG9
After much VAR deliberation Chelsea take the lead in Amsterdam by way of Lauren James! 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 19, 2024
Watch LIVE on https://t.co/hmF5i7LtAZ #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/uNOFfynq9m
Have you been reading our weekly free women’s football newsletter Moving the Goalposts? This week focuses on the Women’s Champions League, you can read it here:
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Half-time! Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
So far VAR has had a lot of influence in the match. James’ opener was decided by the technology, Reiten thought she had a goal but it was ruled out but then Nusken restored the scoreline. Ajax have a lot to do in this second half.
45 + 4 min: Nusken almost has a second but her effort is wide.
45 + 3 min: Chelsea come again with James crossing in but Kaneryd’s effort is over the bar. Ajax gather the ball and they move the ball well, Leuchter wins a free kick from Buchanan. Ajax take it quickly but it eventually comes to Hampton.
45 + 1 min: There will be five minutes added here.
45 min: Reiten played a blinder of a ball into the area and Nusken taps home. Huge celebrations after their other goal was ruled out.
GOAL! Ajax 0-2 Chelsea (Nusken, 44')
As soon as one is taken away, another is added.
Updated
NO GOAL! Ajax 0-1 Chelsea
It is chalked off. Slightly harsh but on we go.
43 min: The referee is being told to go and look at the monitor here, usually that means the goal will be overturned. We wait.
42 min: I think they are checking if Nusken is offside and if she is if she interfered with play. I don’t think she did but we will see.
41 min: James’ cross was good but Reiten’s initial header goes to the floor, she picks it up and smashes home. But hang on, they are checking this.
GOAL! Ajax 0-2 Chelsea (Reiten, 40')
James with the assist, Reiten finishes.
39 min: Perisset is over the set piece ball once again. Her delivery is good but it is easily headed away Leuchter.
37 min: Chelsea win a free kick in a great position, Perisset takes it and it is a perfect delivery. Nusken makes the run but her header is off target. Chelsea continue to press and they win a corner.
35 min: Ajax have responded well to conceding, they aren’t forcing plays and they also haven’t crumbled in defence either. They have thrown a few punches in this encounter already and a goal from the team seems likely.
33 min: Kaneryd has a good run but her pass isn’t accurate and Ajax can clear. The hosts create a chance, with Grant coming forward but Hampton collects her effort.
30 min: Hampton comes out to clear the ball and my word she almost lets Ajax in, Yohannes picks up the ball but skies her effort. The keeper not having her finest performance so far.
28 min: Ajax take the free kick but Chelsea intercept the pass, Reiten looks to pass into a good area but Ajax do well to block the effort.
26 min: The pace of this game has slowed significantly since the goal, Ajax wanting to quell any momentum built from going ahead. Leupolz gives away a free kick but it is deep in Chelsea’s half so Ajax will have to do a lot to create something.
24 min: Boos rain down as James as she dispossesses Keijzer but play continues. Chelsea now the ones playing out of the back but possession soon changes hands again.
22 min: I thought it was another Chelsea player they were checking but it was James’ run VAR checked. It’s interesting as VAR is not in operation during the group stage.
GOAL! Ajax 0-1 Chelsea (James, 19')
The goal stands! The offside decision has been overturned by VAR.
Updated
20 min: Chelsea thought they were in there, James beat Van Eijk and she had it in the back of the net but an earlier Chelsea player was ruled offside. There is VAR here and James’ goal is being checked.
Updated
18 min: Hampton has a poor clearance but her defence comes to her rescue this time. They run the ball through the team and James almost pounces on a shot but Van Eijk closes it down.
16 min: Ajax really have James’ number early on, she always has two defenders around her and can’t show her footwork skills – it is really hampering Chelsea’s attack.
13 min: Chelsea are coming forward now, James does well initially but she is dispossessed and Ajax counter, Hoekstra take a shot but Hampton easily saves. It isn’t going all Chelsea’s way so far, Ajax with the better of the chances.
11 min: Ajax looked to peel away to create an attack but Buchanan shuts the chance down early. The hosts are being patient in their build-up play, happy to play out the back for now.
9 min: Carter wins a free kick on halfway and she takes it herself, it’s a long ball but it doesn’t reach Charles.
7 min: So close to an opener from Grant, wow. She rifles a shot off, it goes beyond Hampton but it smacks the post!
7 min: Buchanan is fouled in the midfield, she wins a free kick and remains on the ground. She doesn’t need any medical attention though and so we play on. Chelsea take the free kick short but they are eventually dispossessed. Ajax counter but Perisset, who had a great match against Arsenal last Friday, does well to shut down the chance.
5 min: It’s a good delivery but a Chelsea player can’t connect, Kaneryd does well to recover the ball but then some excellent Ajax defence dispossesses her. They try to clear but Chelsea quickly get back in control, James crosses but Nusken doesn’t get a clean touch.
3 min: A slow start from both teams so far, no clear cut chance as of yet but Charles has now won a corner.
Updated
Kick-off! Ajax 0-0 Chelsea
Here we go then. Can Chelsea live up to the favourites tag? Or will Ajax cause a shock? All to come.
There is a stunning light show in Amsterdam, the party atmosphere is here so all we need now is some exciting football. That will come in under five minutes time, we hope.
The players will be out shortly before the first quarter-final gets underway. Ajax will be fancying their chances at home, they will want to clock a good results before they play the reverse fixture on 27 March.
A recap of how Chelsea responded to being drawn against Ajax back in February:
Macario starts from the bench for Chelsea today. If she is called upon it will be her first appearance in the Women’s Champions League since May 2022. She has been a super sub for the Blues since recovering from her ACL injury.
Also get your predictions in. Ajax could cause an upset but Chelsea are favourites. I think Chelsea will slightly edge it but the hosts will give them a run for their money.
A good piece to sink your teeth into ahead of this one:
I would love to hear your ‘I was today years old when I found out’ moments. I recently found out a raisin is a dried grape which blew my mind! Get in touch via X (@rendellx) or by email.
The team news is here.
Ajax:
REPRESENTING AJAX! ❌❌❌#UWCL #ajache pic.twitter.com/TO7Ealc3gk
— Ajax Vrouwen (@AjaxVrouwen) March 19, 2024
Chelsea: Hampton, Perisset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Nusken, Leupolz, Cuthbert, Kaneryd, James, Reiten
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League. Today we are bringing you live coverage from Ajax v Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
It is the first of the quarters and the European action gets back underway. Chelsea will be favourites heading into the match despite their injury list at the moment. Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Mayra Ramirez are among the stars not able to feature in this fixture.
Chelsea may be favourites but Ajax are more than capable of creating an upset. Among their impressive group results was a 1-0 win against Bayern Munich back in December.
We will run through what each club has said in the build-up to the knock-out match shortly. But first let’s take a look at team news …
