Thank you for joining me for this quarter-final between Chelsea and Manchester City. The Blues managed to overturn a 2-0 deficit with a thrilling first half performance to set up a semi-final against Barcelona for the third successive season. City, on the other hand, are out with the FA Cup now their only real chance at silverware this season. To catch up with all the action have a read of the report below. We will be back with women’s football games this weekend as the WSL continues and we will also bring you those Champions League semis next month. See you soon.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said: “What a special night in front of our fans. After the first leg game I knew we could but it is one thing to say it and then go on to do it.
“They believed it was possible and they put it all out there. This one is a special one for sure, I think losing the first game is never easy. This is why football is magic.”
And on Barcelona: “We have all the quality to go all the way, it will be tough against Barca. tonight we will enjoy this.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright told TNT Sports: “we were never in doubt, we had full confidence in ourselves. We could have had way more than three goals. Unbelievable mentality to come back. A true Chelsea performance.”
Now not to be a downer for Chelsea fans but Barcelona await in the semi-finals and they look absolutely formidable. More than usual. They blew Wolfsburg away in their quarter-final tie 10-2. The Blues will need to be pinpoint perfect to overcome the defending champions.
Chelsea and Manchester City have now finished their four straight games against each other in 12 days. The Blues won the League Cup final, the WSL match and now they have won the Champions League tie. Of course City ended Chelsea’s unbeaten run with that win in the first leg but they just could not get the job done tonight.
What a classy and professional performance from Chelsea. They headed into this tie 2-0 down to a skilful and amazing Manchester City side, it was an extremely difficult task. But goals from Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn and Mayra Ramirez in the first half were the difference. They also didn’t back down in the second half, they just kept pressing. Barcelona await.
Full-time: Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (3-2 on agg)
Chelsea are through to the Women’s Champions League semi-final where they will play Barcelona after turning around the tie against Manchester City. City were incredible in the first leg but Chelsea blew them away in the first half of the second leg. But just class all round and spectacular football on display from both clubs. What a treat to watch.
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90 + 4 min: Heart in the mouth moments for both sets of fans here. Can Chelsea see it out? Or will City push it to extra time? What a tie this has been!
90 + 2 min: Coombs has given away a free kick for a challenge on Bronze, she is down for a moment but she is back to her feet. Just before Hampton takes the kick Walsh is replaced by Jean-Francois
90 + 1 min: City come forward and Kerolin makes a good run but her effort is collected by Hampton. I am expecting a little bit of injury time with Kerolin down for quite a while. There will be four minutes added, how are the nerves Chelsea and City fans?
89 min: Ouahabi gives away a free kick high up the pitch and she shouts in frustration. James will take the set piece and she pops it into the box. It comes to Cuthbert but City get it and are on the counter. Is this there breakthrough? No it isn’t. Beever-Jones clears.
87 min: Chelsea win the ball in the midfield and Kaneryd again makes a great run into the box, changes her direction and gets a shot away but it is over the bar.
85 min: City have worked it into a great position, Coombs goes forward but the whistle is then blown for a push on a Chelsea player. City then make a change with Hasegawa off for Layzell.
84 min: Cuthbert wins a free kick from a Hasegawa challenge but it is in their own half so they will have to build from deep. They run it through the team but City recover the ball.
83 min: Some of you are asking if this tie is a draw at full-time if it will go to extra time and the answer is yes. We would go to extra time and then if they still cannot be separated there will be penalties.
82 min: Cuthbert makes a storming run into the box and she launches a great ball which rattles the woodwork. Wow, so close to sealing the tie.
80 min: City are peppering the Chelsea half with some good attacking moves but the Chelsea defence are doing just enough to keep them out at the moment. This tie is far from done.
79 min: A beautiful ball from Baltimore to Kaptein but the teenager is judged offside.
77 min: A ball through to try and find Coombs by Hasegawa has too much on it and it’s out for a goal kick.
76 min: James is having an incredible game tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was name d player of the match as things stand. Also I shouldn’t have referenced Kendrick Lamar because now it is stuck in my head.
74 min: Wow, what reflexes from Keating. Kaneryd crossesin as Chelsea counter and Beever-Jones’ chance is saved. End-to-end stuff here at Stamford Bridge.
73 min: Fowler is over the set piece and launches it into the box but Bright gets a head to it. It comes to Miedema’s feet but Chelsea do get it clear. A few moments later Miedema gets in a great position and rockets off a chance but it is just wide.
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72 min: Chelsea are on the attack again here with Kaneryd crossing in but Keating follows it precisely and collects. Then Bright gives away a free kick, just before it is taken Ramirez is off for Beever-Jones.
70 min: The commentators have started to chat about the players City are missing but let’s not forget Chelsea have also got a whole host of stars not fit. Sam Kerr, Sophie Ingle, Naomi Girma. These teams are evenly matched in my opinion.
69 min: City win a free kick in a good position and it pinballs in the box, not convincing defence from Chelsea at all but it is eventually cleared. City get in an attacking position again and Ouahabi takes a shot but it’s wide.
68 min: Charles Antaki has emailed and said:
Not many mentions of Miedema this half - she did tend to occasionally drift out of games at Arsenal - also maybe not quite back to full fitness?
She is very much still all over the pitch but her teammates are just not finding her as much. Definitely the key player in the team still, in my opinion.
66 min: My word James is good at football isn’t she? She fights off several defenders, lays it off and then Chelsea lose the ball. City counter and Fowler tries to find Miedema but Hampton collects. City make a change with Park on for Roord.
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64 min: Cuthbert this time has a shot but Keating saves, City counter and a cross comes in but Hampton collects. This may be a rogue reference but the amount of chances Chelsea are having right now sounds like the part in the Kendrick Lamar song Not Like Us when he says “bing bop boom boom boom bop bam”. Just so much happening.
62 min: Chelsea make a break through Kaneryd and she takes a shot which is saved by Keating, she concedes a corner in doing so. It comes in by James but there is a foul in the box and City can clear.
61 min: Kerolin now back on the pitch and all good to keep going here. Jess Park is an option on the bench but a reminder Bunny Shaw and Aoba Fujino are out injured.
60 min: Kerolin is on the sidelines still receiving treatment, she hobbled off before the free kick but City will be hoping she will be back.
59 min: Back to the action with City’s free kick. Miedema and Fowler over this set piece ball but it is the Australia international who launches it but it hits the wall.
57 min: Joe Pearson has emailed and said:
My tipple is always Chardonnay. Oh, and I have a lasagna in the oven, it being just past 5:00 PM here.
That sounds heavenly. Kerolin is back to her feet and okay to continue.
56 min: Chelsea don’t like it but Baltimore gets a free kick right on the edge of the box for a challenge on Kerolin. That is a tricky decision as it could have gone either way. The Brazil international is now receiving treatment.
55 min: I have to say there has been a few moments where Bronze is losing out in duals in this second half. Not the best decision making from the England international.
54 min: A loose ball from Chelsea gives City some time on the ball and Bronze gives away a free kick for a challenge on Ouahabi. It is deep into their half and they roll it back to Keating and her pass is straight out.
52 min: Some lovely build-up play from Baltimore but her resulting cross is collected by Keating. A lively start to this second half.
50 min: VAR are checking for a penalty and they can still pull the game back when there is a break in play. They do just that but it’s check over and no penalty.
49 min: Baltimore crosses it in, it’s not clean in the box and there are shouts from the Chelsea players for a penalty but nothing is given. A reminder VAR is in operation tonight.
48 min: City win the ball back quickly and the possession exchanges hands. Cuthbert then makes a hell of a break and Kaneryd pinballs in the box, finds Bronze and she wins a corner. The action!
47 min: City are on the attack early on, they are the ones now chasing the game. Chelsea do well to defend and then Ramirez wins a free kick. It’s on halfway so there’s a lot of work to do for the Blues to make something of it.
46 min: City have made a change at the break with Laura Coombs on for Lily Murphy.
Back underway: Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (3-2 on agg)
So who can come out on top in this tie? All to come.
Whoever wins this tie between Chelsea and Manchester City will play Barca in the semis. Here’s how they got on earlier:
Just to say before half-time Ramirez had a chance to make it four but her effort was directly at Keating who saved. Now it is City who need to get back into this but they have created so many chances they are absolutely capable. Another thrilling half to come.
Half-time: Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (3-2 on agg)
Well what a turn up for the books. Many would have expected Chelsea to give themselves a chance in this tie but who would have bet they would be in front by half-time? Ramirez, Bjorn and Baltimore the difference. A huge second half to come.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added. Fowler takes a shot but Hampton collects.
45 min: I cannot believe City have just done that. They had been squeaky clean in defence and then just coughed up that cheap chance.
Ramirez gave away a free kick but City are loose in their passing. James crosses to Ramirez and she scores. Wow.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (Ramirez, 3-2 on agg)
What is happening?
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43 min: Kaneryd lays the ball to James who takes a long range effort but it is wide.
42 min: The commentator is talking about Chelsea fans booking flights to Barcelona already but that is surely running way too far ahead. There is a lot of football to be played yet and City have a lot of tricks up their sleeve.
41 min: This will be so interesting to see how City react. They had reacted so well to the first goal and had dominant attack but couldn’t convert it into a goal, then a bit of sloppy defending sees this tie level. What a match.
39 min: The atmosphere in Stamford Bridge is electric right now. This tie has been blown wide open.
The delivery from the corner was great and Bjorn does not hit the post with her header this time. Another huge moment.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City (Bjorn, 2-2 on agg)
Oh wow.
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38 min: Ramirez does extremely well, absolutely unbelievable run to beat two defenders. She gets a pass away but Prior defends well to see it out for a corner.
36 min: I also apologise if I miss any action, there is just so much to keep up with. Right now Chelsea fans are booing Keating, they think this is a tactical break with City quelling Chelses’s momentum. Keating is now back up and okay to continue.
35 min: it was Miedema with the goalline clearance, what a star. She has been everywhere for City this evening. There is a slight break in play as Keating gets some treatment.
34 min: Baltimore’s cross comes to Keating who punches away, they then clear. Chelsea send it back in and Keating saves really well but concedes another corner. It comes back in and my word! A goalline clearance, the Blues are getting closer.
33 min: City win a corner and Fowler is the taker again. The delivery is good and it comes to Kerolin but she can’t convert and Chelsea now counter. The resulting cross is out for a corner, I can’t keep up with all of this action!
31 min: Chelsea now win a corner, the delivery is okay but Fowler clears easily. The replay of the Cuthebrt foul in the box looked a little soft, so Chelsea can’t feel hard done by.
30 min: The ball eventually comes into the box for Chelsea again but Ramirez’ effort is wide. Chelsea keep up the attack and Cuthbert hits the deck, she wants a penalty but the referee does not give it. There is VAR in operation this evening so if there was a clear one they would have reviewed.
29 min: Kaptein wanted a corner there as she ran after a Ramirez pass but it’s ruled a goal kick. Very much end-to-end this match but City now look the more comfortable.
27 min: Fowler takes the set piece looked good but it goes all the way through and out for a goal kick.
26 min: City are really turning up the heat on Chelsea, in defence the Blues do look shaky and Stamford Bridge get a little nervous every time they come forward. So far they can’t find their clinical edge but it feels a matter of time. City win a corner now.
25 min: Fowler is in a lot of space and finds Kerolin, who has really come alive over the last few games for City, and she launches an effort goalward but Hampton saves. It’s not long before City are on the attack again but Bright clears. City definitely growing into this one.
23 min: James goes on a lovely run down the left but her cross is watched well by Keating who collects.
22 min: Ouahabi takes the set piece and it reaches Miedema who flicks it on but it is eventually cleared.
21 min: City now on the attack but Baltimore does well in defence to clear the danger. City whip it left and right to try and find a way through and Casparji sends a peach of a ball in but Hampton collects. A few moments later Mary Fowler gets a shot saved by Hampton but concedes a corner.
19 min: The delivery is good but it is initially repelled. Walsh get onto the ball and her long range effort is collected by Keating.
18 min: What a battle each of the four game have been over these past two weeks, just a joy to watch. Chelsea are on the front foot again and Miedema concedes a corner. She is fuming with her defence.
17 min: So just to keep check, Chelsea are now ahead in this game but they are still behind in this tie. Do City now shift their game plan?
Khiara Keating had a lot to do and I feel for the goalkeeper and she had dived for the Bronze effort and just could not get back in position to save Baltimore’s. Huge moment.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City (Baltimore, 1-2 on agg)
Lucy Bronze hits the post and then Baltimore hits in the rebound.
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14 min: It’s all Chelsea but they just cannot create the killer blow they so desperately need so far. Reminding me a lot of Arsenal from their first half yesterday.
12 min: Chelsea are bang up for this tonight, five chances at goal in these early chances from City. But the visitors have defended well and absorbed a lot of pressure.
11 min: James, who has brother Reece in the stands tonight, wins a corner. Baltimore takes the set piece and it meets Nathalie Bjorn but her header hits the bar. Another chance been and gone.
10 min: Vivianne Miedema, the player who scored both goals in the first leg, is surrounded by players in the box and they win the ball back. Chelsea break but they cannot make anything of it.
8 min: Erin Cuthbert wins the ball high up and finds Ramirez but her effort is wide. I’m unsure how many chances Chelsea will get and so they really need to be clinical when they get them.
7 min: Kerolin intercepts a ball and passes to Kerstin Casparji but the shot is straight at Hannah Hampton.
6 min: City just taking the wind out of Chelsea’s sails by retaining possession here. It will be interesting to see how City’s game plan develop over this match.
4 min: Oh my word how have Chelsea not scored? Lauren James does extremely well to recover a ball she’d lost, she squared the ball but Mayra Ramirez couldn’t get there. It’s out for a corner but City clear.
3 min: Both sides are just settling into this one. City are by no means sitting back and just defending their 2-0 lead, they are the ones who have attacked more early on.
2 min: Just a reminder that if Chelsea take a 2-0 lead here by full-time we will go to extra time and then if the sides still cannot be separated it will be penalties.
Kick-off: Chelsea 0-0 Man City (0-2 on agg)
Here we go. Can Chelsea overturn this result? Or will City sail through? All to come.
A key story to have a read of here:
Redmond Grimes has emailed and says on tipple chat:
As it is only 12.40pm here, it’s a water made from some glacier in Northern BC.
That sounds like quite the thirst-quencher, I’m quite jealous.
Whoever comes out the winner after this match will be playing defending champions Barcelona. The Spanish giants have beaten Wolfsburg 6-1 in their second leg which means they defeated them 10-2 over the tie. Dominant. It is going to take a perfect performance from Chelsea or City across both legs to stop them.
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Please do get in touch via email too, what tipple are you having this evening while watching the game or catching up on updates? I have gone for an orange juice but let me know your drink of choice.
A great interview with Manchester City’s Kerolin to have a read of before kick-off:
Chelsea fans may think a 2-0 deficit is too much to get over but Arsenal proved it is possible last night when they beat Real Madrid 3-0 in their second leg to win the tie 3-2. Catch up on all the action here:
Bunny Shaw and Aoba Fujino are both injured but they were also both unavailable for City’s first leg against Chelsea so the team can get a result without them.
The team news is here! Chelsea have made five changes from the Blues team who beat City last Sunday. Sandy Baltimore, Keira Walsh, Erin Cuthbert, Mayra Ramirez, Nathalie Bjorn come in for Ashley Lawrence, Niamh Charles, Aggie Beever-Jones, Oriane Jean-Francois and Maika Hamano.
Chelsea: Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert, Kaptein; Rytting Kaneryd, Ramirez, James.
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Lawrence, Charles, Hamano, Macario, Nusken, Brown, Beever-Jones, Jean-Francois
Man City, meanwhile, have made three changes from last time out. Lily Murphy, Leila Ouhabi and Mary Fowler are in for Naomi Layzell, Jess Park and Laura Coombs.
Man City: Keating; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Roord, Miedema; Kerolin, Fowler, Murphy.
Subs: Startup, Layzell, Coombs, Wienroither, Park
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to the second leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-final between Chelsea and Manchester City.
It is the Blues, hosting tonight at Stamford Bridge, who have all the work to do with City winning the first leg 2-0. If City score first this tie could be over and so Chelsea will want to get a fast start.
Tonight’s match marks the end of a four-game run these two have played against one another in the space of 12 days. Chelsea won the first game, the League Cup final, 2-1. City hit back with the 2-0 first leg win but the Blues won their WSL match last Sunday 2-1.
We will have a look at what both clubs have been saying in the build-up shortly with team news dropping soon. Stay tuned before kick-off at 8pm GMT.
