Chelsea women team open their Women’s Champions League league phase with narrow win over Austria Vienna for AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium. Wieke Kaptein score the only goal for 11th minute, one superb 25-yard strike wey hit crossbar before e enter net. Austria Vienna try find equaliser, but e no work. Chelsea collect three points.
But the win come with injury worry. England international Keira Walsh, 29, come off for 20th minute and waka straight down tunnel after Kaptein don open scoring. E never clear whether the decision na precaution. Chelsea go host Arsenal for Women’s Super League on Sunday, and England squad go announce next week.
Austria Vienna, on their Champions League debut, show say dem fit cause shock. Defender Virginia Kirchberger shot over from close range after Chelsea goalkeeper Livia Peng spill corner into her path. Before that, Chelsea striker Melvine Malard, who make her first start since joining from Manchester United, get two good efforts to extend lead. Blues winger Alyssa Thompson also shot just wide late for first half. After interval, Malard replaced by Maika Hamano, in wetin look like pre-planned change.
The Austrian double-winners catch Veerle Buurman in possession before Velentina Potzl get shot brilliantly saved by Peng. Visitors’ Modesta Uka also hit post later for half, but Kaptein and Sandy Baltimore see shots saved and blocked for Blues. Sjoeke Nusken volley best Chelsea chance over from close range after brilliant wing play from Ellie Carpenter.
At the end, Chelsea edge out Vienna in unconvincing fashion. Attention go now turn to wetin Walsh injury mean for Chelsea home match against Arsenal. Chief concern na whether she go fit feature, with Chelsea sitting third for Women’s Super League, two points behind leaders Manchester City. Question mark still dey over Lauren James, who dey hopeful of return, while captain Erin Cuthbert, Manaka Matsukubo and Aggie Beever-Jones remain sidelined through injury.
The performance against Vienna na another unconvincing display from Chelsea, especially for attack, as dem squander chances to extend lead. As game wear on, dem also struggle to control visitors despite starting as overwhelming favourites, no doubt affected by loss of key playmaker Walsh. Although dem fit extend lead, dem also give away plenty chances and fit end up with less than expected three points for wetin, on paper, look their easiest fixture.
Manager Sonia Bompastor cut tense figure for touchline as she try guide her side to opening victory for league phase of Europe’s premier club competition. Na tournament Chelsea never win, despite Bompastor insist say dem capable, while also acknowledge say this season fit be transitional one for club. Concerns remain say Chelsea, who don talk about lack of clinical edge after two of opening three Women’s Super League matches, still dey search for identity this season, particularly with Arsenal on horizon. That no even mention trip to Bompastor former club Lyon, who win 8-0 for Champions League same night, to follow next week.
For lineup, Bompastor make three changes to her starting XI. After two-legged qualifier against Real Sociedad, Chelsea play first of six league phase matches for Plough Lane. Bompastor pick Livia Peng as starting goalkeeper, with Hannah Hampton named on substitutes’ bench. Lucy Bronze also rotated, with Katie McCabe start for her place for backline. Lexi Potter make way for Melvine Malard, after striker score for Chelsea 2-0 victory over Birmingham City for weekend. Chelsea lineup na: Peng, Carpenter, Buchanan, Buurman, McCabe, Nusken, Walsh (c), Kaptein, Thompson, Baltimore, Malard. Chelsea substitutes na: Hampton, Rudz, Potter, Brown, Bronze, Las, Dragoni, Bjorn, Girma, Hamano, Sarwie.
Chelsea goalscorer Wieke Kaptein talk on Disney+: “It was a tough game. They put pressure on us and made it a little bit more difficult. We could have scored more goals and we needed to punish them more. Overall we won, it’s good and now we need to focus on the next game. For sure relief. In the last 10 minutes, we were fighting. We stuck together as a team but we could have kept the ball a bit better. They are a good team and they are not for nothing in the Champions League. They were really dangerous in our half. But we need to look at ourselves as we could have punished them a little bit more.”
Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson also talk on Disney+: “The team came together at the end and we were fighting as much as we could. It’s a good test for us, for our first game to have a physical battle. We are going to play so many different teams and styles during the Champions League so every test is great for us and we came out with the three points so it was a good win. The level dropped a little bit and we were losing tackles but we got back into the game and were ready for the physical fight. At that point it turned into that and we knew what game we had to play. We’re strong and we know we can play different styles so in the end we just had to fight it out.”
Former Arsenal and Brighton goalkeeper Emma Byrne talk on Disney+ say she impressed with Austria Vienna, dem good tonight, and na team she go continue watch and follow. For Chelsea, she think dem go very happy with three points, disappointed perhaps say dem no play as well as dem should but. Champions League, three points, dem go glad to have am. She also yan about Modesta Uka: if any player deserve it, na her. Again, e just no dey clear ball well enough. Poor clearance, too much space. Uka left-footed, she only go left and she so good on it. Inches away from 1-1. Byrne also praise Ellie Carpenter great run: she look up, she know where she want put am.
For other scores, holders Barcelona come from behind to beat Paris FC 5-2. Arsenal grab last-minute winner against KB Hoge, Manchester City snatch draw after being two down versus Bayern Munich. Chelsea don score for their last 12 games in Women’s Champions League, their longest run of games with goal in competition since run of 16 games from 12 September, 2018 to 2 May, 2021. There are 18 teams for this season Women’s Champions League main phase. Each side play six matches against six different opponents, three for home and three away. Top four for end of phase go quarter-finals, with those between fifth and 12th involved for play-offs to join dem. After one matchweek, these are teams wey get at least one point.
