In a decisive clash at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal triumphed over Chelsea, securing a place in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory. The second leg, held on April 1 at 8 p.m. GMT, saw Chelsea needing to score twice to level the aggregate score after losing the first leg 3-1 at the Emirates.
Despite Chelsea’s early pressure, hitting the post twice in the first 10 minutes, they fell behind when Stina Blackstenius scored from a Katie McCabe freekick. Chelsea’s Lauren James had previously scored in the first leg, but the team struggled to convert their chances.
Sjoeke Nusken managed to score a late goal for Chelsea in the second leg, but it was not enough to change the outcome. Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Daphne van Domselaar, made two impressive late saves to maintain the lead.
Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, who scored in the first leg, increased her tally in the competition to eight goals. However, the visitors had a goal disallowed late on due to an offside call against Smilla Holmberg, who had assisted Blackstenius.
Lucy Bronze reflected on the match, stating, “There’s not much more we could do across both legs. We were the better team but not the most clinical. That was the difference.” This sentiment echoed the frustration felt by Chelsea as they exited the tournament.
Arsenal’s victory caps off a remarkable run, as they have won 10 of their past 11 matches in all competitions and remain unbeaten since January. This performance underscores their strength as they advance in the tournament.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the future matchups in the semi-finals, but Arsenal’s current form positions them as strong contenders for the title.
