SANT JOAN DESPÍ, SPAIN — Barcelona don show strong hand as dem beat Chelsea 4-1 for the first leg of the UEFA Women Champions League semi-final on Sunday. The reigning champions, wey dey run for dem third consecutive semi-final against Chelsea, score four goals to put dem self for better position to advance to the final.
Claudia Pina, wey come on as substitute, shine for Barca as she net twice. Dem miss early penalty wey Alexia Putellas take but Ewa Pajor open the score with sharp strike for 35th minute after she run behind Chelsea defense. Pina follow join the party for 70th minute as she make am 2-0 shortly after coming off the bench.
Chelsea no wan back down as dem manage reply with goal from Sandy Baltimore wey come in for 74th minute, but Barcelona quickly regain dem two-goal lead when Irene Paredes head ball enter net from corner kick for 82nd minute. Pina still manage score her second goal in stoppage time to complete the rout.
“No winning scoreline is enough,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu talk after the match. “We dey ready for another tough match for Stamford Bridge.” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor remain optimistic, as she believe say anything fit happen for the second leg. “It go hard but we still get chance if we fit score early,” she talk.
Dis match dey mark the eighth consecutive win for Barcelona for this tournament, and dem don score 40 goals since dem lose to Manchester City earlier. Chelsea need to turn the tables as dem return home for the second leg next Sunday. Dem don face similar pressure before when dem beat Manchester City 3-0 in quarter-finals, so dem fit still make am possible.
For the match, Chelsea struggle to create clear chances despite their efforts, and only manage one shot on target from Aggie Beever-Jones wey goalkeeper Cata Coll parry away in first half. Defenders like Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright try to keep Barcelona attackers in check, but dem ultimately fall short in the final minutes as Barcelona show their title-winning pedigree.
“We need to play with more confidence and get back into our rhythm for the next game,” Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh urge after the match.
With a three-goal deficit to make up in the return leg, Chelsea go need better defense and creative play if dem want reach the final for Lisbon next month.
