Thank you for joining me this evening for this match. Chelsea had all the dominance but Häcken were well drilled in their defence and got themselves over the line still unbeaten and top of the group. The two sides will play each other once again next week and we will be covering it once more so join us! For now have a read of Sophie Downey’s report and have a good evening:
Here is Sam Kerr’s offside effort:
Sam Kerr finds the net with a header but she was just offsides 👀
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 14, 2023
🏴 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/2fXzBIuZdg
🇸🇪 🎙️ 👉 https://t.co/Nol68p59r2#UWCLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/uofGByUeHJ
A fun fact for you, not so fun if you are a Chelsea supporter:
Chelsea's 22 shots are the joint-most by a team when failing to score in a UWCL match this season‼ https://t.co/HWu27Zn8V4
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 14, 2023
In the other 8pm kick-off it ended 2-1 to PSG who won at home against Roma.
Jusu Bah added another dimension to Häcken’s attack when she was introduced in the second half. It will be interesting to see if she starts when the two sides meet again next week.
Chelsea had two close efforts with Kerr and Cuthbert hitting the bar and the Australian also had a goal ruled out for offside. The Blues had 22 shots at goal but only five were target, a frustrating evening for the English side.
Updated
Full time! Chelsea 0-0 Häcken
Perisset’s effort is wide from the free kick. Well Chelsea may have been utterly dominant and rained down chances on Häcken’s goal but they only come away with one point. The Blues were not clinical but the credit has to go to Häcken’s defence, particularly through Rybink, has been impeccable. The Swedish side remain top of the group.
90 + 5 min: Häcken make a late change with Kafaji off for Grant. Chelsea’s night is summed up with a long pass going over the head of James and out of play. But they do win a free kick on the edge of the area! Could this be it?
90 + 3 min: Perisset has a good delivery but Nusken’s header is well wide. Chelsea come again and James launches it at goal but Falk makes a good save, she can’t control but no one is there to tap in the rebound.
90 + 1 min: There will be five minutes added and Chelsea have a corner.
90 min: Another two chances for Chelsea go begging, ones that the WSL champions would usually convert. They are out of sorts, their 4-1 drubbing to Arsenal and now a 0-0 draw in a dominant display.
89 min: Perisset has a great delivery and it pinballs around, so many chances but nothing clinical. Chelsea thought they had won a corner but it is ruled a goal kick.
88 min: A great ball comes into the box but no one is there to connect with it for Chelsea. Buchanan wins a free kick, can they find a break through in the closing minutes?
87 min: Jusu Bah ignites Häcken’s latest attack but Musaka is ruled offside. Schroder is now on for Anvegard.
86 min: Emma Hayes can be heard on the stream, over the crowd chants, saying ‘short passes’ as her team’s latest attack stalled. There’s a slight break in play as Anvegard gets some treatment for cramp. She limps off the pitch but is not yet replaced.
84 min: Häcken are pushed back to Falk from the free kick and possession exchanges hands. I can’t see either side scoring at the moment and Häcken will be thoroughly pleased with a draw, keeping their WCL campaign unbeaten.
82 min: Chelsea make another change with Kirby off for Fishel, can the American spark the clinical edge her side have lacked? Not just yet as Buchanan gives away a free kick with a foul on Anvegard, it’s deep in their own half though and so they will build from deep.
80 min: In the other game PSG are leading Roma 2-0. Back to this game and Häcken’s defence remains the most impressive part of play.
79 min: Masaka’s first touch on the ball sees her put it out of play and Chelsea look to build from deep. Their attempts end in a poor pass from Kaneryd but they are quickly back in possession. James takes a long range effort but Falk collects.
77 min: Häcken are getting closer too with every attack, Kafaji’s last pass intercepted by Buchanan. The visitors make a change with Larsey off for Masaka
75 min: Häcken now have a chance to throw a punch as they have some good build-up, it ends with Angevard taking a shot but it’s over the bar. Chelsea are quick to get it back up the other end, James pops it into the area and Kerr heads home but the offside flag is up. Chelsea make another change with Reiten off for Beever-Jones.
73 min: James does well in the box and she crosses it across the face of the goal but no one is there to finish it off. A near identical move from Perisset comes a minute later but again it’s not nudged home.
71 min: Jusu Bah has picked up the ball and makes a great run but her pass is loose and Chelsea are able to build again. James whips it in for Reiten but it has a bit too much on it. I feel for any Chelsea fans out there, this is a slightly painful watch.
69 min: There is a long build-up from the hosts and Ingle feeds Nusken, her shot is over the bar. Again Chelsea launch an attack but this time Kirby leaves the ball as she would have been offside. It’s all Chelsea but they just can’t get the ball over the line.
67 min: Carter does well to dispossess Kosola on the edge of the box, Häcken are starting to flex their attack. Chelsea manage to work it to the edge of the box and this time James is dispossessed, it’s end to end.
65 min: Reiten takes the set piece and it’s a great delivery but Charles header is wide. Emma Hayes has seen enough and makes some changes with Cuthbert and Kaneryd are off for Nusken and James. James gets a huge cheer as her name is said over the speaker at Stamford Bridge.
63 min: Chelsea need to faster in their attack if they want to unlock Häcken, the visitors are so well drilled and the Blues are allowing them to find their defensive shape on every attempt. Reiten is blocked by Kosola and wins a free kick in a great position.
62 min: Chelsea win a corner and it’s well delivered from Reiten. It finds Kerr but her header hits the bar. Chelsea are edging closer and they are soon in the box again but Kerr passes to Ingle who coughs up possession.
60 min: Kirby looks to find Reiten but it has too much on it and it’s out. Chelsea come again and Kerr finds herself in a one-on-one with Falk but the keeper makes a huge save to keep them out.
58 min: Chelsea work it up to the box and it pinballs in the area, it drops to Kirby but her effort is over the bar. This game is begging for a final turn of the key, maybe the introduction of Lauren James would connect Chelsea. The England international is on the bench this evening.
56 min: Kosola ignites an attack for the visitors and it’s the best bit of forward play they have had so far, they are definitely growing into this one. It ends in an offside call from Kosola, as good as their defence has been Häcken’s attack has also been left wanting.
54 min: It’s not long until Chelsea find themselves on the ball but it’s just more frustration for the Blues. They attempt to come forward again but it has too much on it for Kaneryd.
Updated
52 min: Reiten is left aghast as she sprints for the ball and thinks she has kept it in but it’s judged out of play. Falk takes the goal kick and Chelsea win it back, can they find a break through? Not yet as Kafaji intercepts play.
50 min: Jusu Bah has made an immediate impact with an electric run after an intercept, it takes a good tackle from Buchanan to stop her. The Chelsea defender concedes a corner in the process. The set piece is swung in but Chelsea clear well.
49 min: Buchanan works really hard to win the ball back after Falk clears the ball but her pass then has too much on it to create a chance. The hosts do wrestle the ball back though but Kerr’s pass is loose. Play quite sloppy from the Blues.
47 min: Cuthbert wins the ball well but her resulting shot is miles over the bar, a bit of a desperate change there. More patience needed but Chelsea are clearly rattled by Häcken.
Back underway! Chelsea 0-0 Häcken
The action has restarted. Can Häcken continue their impressive defence? Or will Chelsea find a way through? All to come. Häcken have made a change with Sandberg off for Jusu Bah.
Redmond has got in touch and said: “As a Chelsea fan in Canada I cannot understand the ticketing policy of the club in home Champions league games. It looks like a covid game on TV.” I can answer this for you. Chelsea only put 5,000 tickets on sale, with all the fans in the stand not on show on the stream. They only put 5,000 on sale as if they sell more than that they would have to enforce road closures and employ more stewards which would make the game not profitable. They can also not host the game at their usually stadium on Kingsmeadow as it does not meet UEFA standards for the WCL.
In the other match tonight PSG have broken the deadlock against Roma, a Grace Geyoro penalty the difference so far.
Harriet has emailed and said: “I have a homemade (by someone else) cupcake to keep me company- it’s cold and rainy where I am so it’s a very welcome comfort!" It’s not rainy here but the cold has definitely settled in for winter. I hope you have a cup of tea with that cupcake.
A shake of the head from Cuthbert as the teams head down the tunnel, just encapsulating the feeling in the Blues camp.
Half-time! Chelsea 0-0 Häcken
It has been an extremely frustrating half for the hosts, they have had countless shots and opportunities but the final play just has not been clinical enough. It isn’t all down to Chelsea’s ineffective attack though, Häcken have been incredible in defence, swarming any player in the final third. All to play for in the second half.
45 + 3 min: Buchanan looks in a bit of pain after a challenge, she limps away but doesn’t need any attention.
45 + 1 min: There will be three minutes added.
44 min: Reiten has a lovely bit of play with a pass to Charles but she is challenged, she wants a free kick but it isn’t given and Chelsea play on. Kosola does well to stop a corner and she wins a free kick to clear the latest threat.
42 min: A lovely bit of play from the visitors with Kosola in the middle of the efforts but the resulting shot is straight at Musovic. Chelsea counter but the Swedish side swarm the Blues once again, Häcken are in yellow shirts and they look like bees as they press Chelsea.
40 min: I wouldn’t want to be in the Chelsea dressing room at half-time off of the back of this frustrating half. They will want to break the deadlock before the break, the visitors will be really happy with their defence so far.
38 min: Chelsea win a free kick in a good position and it’s Perisset who stands over the ball. She whips it in and Kerr squares it across goal but no clear chance is taken. Chelsea remain in possession but are played back to Musovic.
36 min: Charles makes a great run and ignites the hosts’ latest attack, it stalls slightly and they are left passing the ball in the midfield. A very frustrating half for Emma Hayes’ side.
34 min: Wow, Chelsea are just not destined to score in this half. Kerr squares it to Kaneryd who finds Kirby but the whistle is blown for handball in the build-up. Hakan has got in touch on email and said: “I’m keeping it simple and going with chocolate tonight. I hope Häcken wins tonight but it looks highly unlikely. For lovers of trivia, Häcken means the hedge. Or the bum. Local lore has it the club was named after some shrubbery by the playing field but our opponents prefer other interpretations.” Thank you for the fun fact, that’s a good nugget of trivia.
32 min: That missed chance is just the tale of Chelsea’s half so far, no luck in front of goal. Häcken also deserve their plaudits too, the defence in the final third has been impeccable. An update from the other match PSG and Roma stands at 0-0.
30 min: Oh my word! How did that not go in? Reiten crossed it to Cuthbert, her effort whacks the bar, hits back down in front of goal and then it is cleared from Häcken. Rybrink hit her head in that frantic defence but she is okay to continue.
28 min: Falk has a poor clearance and the ball comes to Kerr but she has a poor pass seeing Häcken on the break. Buchanan does well to track the ball and puts in a great tackle to win it back.
26 min: Reiten is over the set piece again and the delivery isn’t the best, it sails over Kerr’s head. Sandberg does really well to marshal the ball out of play to prevent another Chelsea chance.
24 min: Kerr has a great run but her pass into the area isn’t accurate and Häcken are able to clear. Chelsea only need one of these final third passes to come off and they will be ahead. Once again they find themselves in a good position but Cuthbert’s shot is blocked, it comes to Kaneryd and she wins a corner.
22 min: Chelsea win yet another corner, they need to make more of these set pieces, and Reiten steps up once again. It’s a good delivery but Kerr’s header doesn’t have enough on it to trouble Falk. There are some protests from Chelsea players for a penalty after a handball but nothing is given.
21 min: A really good bit of build-up from Chelsea but Kerr loses out on the edge of the area, some great defending from Luik.
19 min: A slower pace has hit the game in the past few minutes, Häcken able to take the sting out of Chelsea’s attack. The question is if the visitors can keep smothering Chelsea like this throughout the match, if they can they will be able to get something from this clash.
17 min: Chelsea are doing well to break Häcken down in the midfield but it’s in the final third that the visitors’ defence is iron clad. The press is impressive and they swarm the ball. And here is why Chelsea need to remain switched on, Häcken break and have a shot but Musovic collects.
15 min: Reiten takes the set piece once more and it pinballs around, eventually falling to Buchanan whose header is wide. Häcken decide to play it out from the back and it pays off with a good clearance but a long ball only finds the feet of Carter and Chelsea are able to control the game again.
14 min: A long build-up for Chelsea as Häcken impressively marshal the Blues forward left and right. The hosts eventually weave the ball into the box but it’s out again for a corner.
13 min: How have Chelsea not scored there? Reiten found herself in a one-on-one with Falk but her shot is well saved by the keeper. Chelsea building into this one but will be ruing their missed chances so far. Häcken are yet to have a touch in the Chelsea box but they are a patient side who are impressive on the counter.
Updated
12 min: Reiten takes it and Kerr takes a one touch shot which goes narrowly wide, she puffs out her cheeks in frustration. Chelsea win the ball back in the midfield and Reiten pings it upfield but Falk manages to clear but the hosts come again. Kerr finds Charles but her shot hits the sidenetting.
10 min: A lovely move sees Reiten thread the ball to Kerr but the captain is offside. Chelsea come again, cheered on by a loud crowd, and they win yet another corner.
8 min: Kirby is now back on the pitch, she is okay to continue.
7 min: Kirby limps to the side, she hasn’t officially been replaced and Chelsea play with 10 for now. They have a corner which is hit out for another set piece, Reiten takes it but it’s cleared.
6 min: Kirby has had a long period of treatment here, she landed awkwardly after falling crossing that ball in. James warming up here, it could be an early exit for the England international.
5 min: Häcken try and play out of the back but Kerr intercepts, however she can’t make much of it. It comes to Kirby, who scuffs it across goal but there are no teammates there to hit it home. In the effort Kirby had hurt herself, she is clutching her knee and has signalled for the medical team – not a good sign.
4 min: Reiten, Kerr and Kirby all connect well in some interplay but the final pass is frantic and they can’t convert but they do win a corner. Reiten takes the set piece but it’s cleared.
2 min: An exchange of possession early in this one, both sides finding their feet with no real chance yet.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Häcken
Here we go, the game is underway.
The players are out at Stamford Bridge and the crowd are raring to go for this one. Can Hacken keep their perfect run going? Or can Chelsea top the group? All to come.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has had some good news this week as she is among the shortlisted nominees for Women’s Manager of the Year at the FIFA Best awards. She is alongside Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez and England manager Sarina Wiegman.
There are three other fixtures happening in the competition today. Bayern Munich v Ajax finished 1-1 and Paris FC beat Real Madrid 2-1. The other match, PSG v Roma, will kick-off at 8pm GMT and I’ll keep you up to date with that score when I can.
So sorry about the absence for the last few minutes, my laptop shut down. No fear I am back now, just under 20 minutes until kick-off.
The return of snack chat is here. I had such a big lunch today that I am only snacking this evening so I have quite an extensive amount of packets around me at the moment. Monster Munch, some raspberries and Skittles – a weird yet wonderful mix. What snacks have you got for this one? Get in touch via email to let me know.
Hayes also spoke on their opponents this evening and on the importance of not underestimating them: “They’re very resilient defensively, tough to break down, and very clinical. They take their chances, especially in the transitions. You have to be switched on, particularly from set-plays. They’ve just proved their efficiency. We’ve prepared in the best way. We only had one day preparation time, but we’re used to doing this and we don’t take them lightly. I know the team is switched on, trained really well today, and our focus is all on tomorrow evening.”
Lauren James has been subjected to a lot of online abuse this week in the wake of Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal. The Blues put out a statement in support of their player and manager Emma Hayes has spoken on the issue this week. She said: “I think we have to realise for a young person, in a day and age when social media is unbelievably vitriolic, some of the nasty language and labelling and name-calling goes over the edge. And if you add racism to that for her, you can understand why her mental health is not in a very good place this week.” Read the full story:
The team news is in! Chelsea are without Millie Bright through a knee injury and so Sam Kerr will skipper the side. Lauren James is named in the side but she starts from the bench.
Chelsea: Musovic, Perisset, Buchanan, Carter, Charles, Cuthbert, Ingle, Kaneryd, Kirby, Reiten, Kerr.
Hacken, meanwhile, have started Katariina Kosola and Rosa Kafaji who have been affective goalscorers for them so far in the competition.
Hacken: Larisey, Sandberg, Kafaji, Anvegard, Sorensen, Bergman-Lundin, Junttila Nelhage, Lulk, Rybrink, Kosola, Falk.
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League. Tonight we have Chelsea v Hacken and it will be an intriguing fixture as Hacken have surprised a lot of fans and media with their performances so far.
Hacken are top of group C as they have won both of their matches so far this campaign. They defeated Real Madrid 2-1 and beat Paris FC 2-1. Chelsea, meanwhile, beat Paris FC 4-1 but drew 2-2 with Real Madrid which means they sit in second.
A win for Chelsea today would see them top the group before the two teams meet again next week. And the Blues head into the match off of the back of a 4-1 thumping in the Women’s Super League dealt by Arsenal.
Before we take a look at what has been said this week, as well as how the other games are going, the team news should be out shortly. The big question will be if Lauren James plays for Chelsea today after having a tough week following online abuse – more on this soon. Stay tuned for updates before kick-off at 8pm GMT.
