Chelsea Women Take Commanding Lead in Champions League Quarter-Final Against Ajax

Chelsea Women’s team showcased a dominant performance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Ajax, securing a convincing 3-0 victory in Amsterdam. The match highlighted the prowess of midfielder Sjoeke Nusken, who scored two crucial goals for the Blues on the night.

The victory comes on the heels of Nusken’s stellar performance against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, where she netted two goals in a crucial match against the title rivals. Nusken’s impact has been particularly significant for Chelsea given the current injury crisis affecting their forwards, with key players like Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, and Mayra Ramirez sidelined.

With this impressive first-leg result, Chelsea now have one foot in the Champions League semi-final. However, the job is far from over, as they still need to face Ajax in the second leg next week to secure their spot in the next round. The winner of the Chelsea-Ajax tie will advance to face the victors of the Barcelona–Brann match in the semi-finals.

Notably, Chelsea’s Lauren James opened the scoring in the quarter-final clash, setting the tone for a dominant performance by the Blues. After an initial VAR decision ruled out a goal, Nusken restored the scoreline with a well-taken goal.

The Blues further solidified their lead late in the game, with Nusken adding another goal, aided by a precise assist from Macario. The victory puts Chelsea in a commanding position ahead of the second leg, with the prospect of reaching the Champions League semi-finals looming large.

Throughout the match, Ajax made valiant attempts to stage a comeback but were unable to break through Chelsea’s formidable defense. The Blues’ overall performance, orchestrated by manager Emma Hayes, demonstrated their ambition to clinch the coveted UEFA Women’s Champions League title.