LONDON, 24 MAR — It was a heated clash between Chelsea and Arsenal at a packed Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening in the UEFA Women’s Champion’s League quarter-final, leaving the first half of the London derby at 3-1 to the Gooners.
Lionesses forward Alessia Russo scored the North London team’s winning goal in the 75th minute, her eighth goal of this UWCL campaign. Play began with Irish midfielder Katie McCabe, who won the ball back from the Blues and crossed the ball to Stina Blackstenius. The Swedish forward found Russo, who slammed the goal in early to shock her surrounding defenders.
“We knew there were things we needed to tighten up on,” Russo said to BBC Sport. “ 2-0 is really tough and the next goal is really important, we wanted to remain calm in and around our box and then LJ [Lauren James] scored an incredible goal and it was about getting momentum back into the game. We want to be a bit more dominant on the ball at times but overall it was a good night.”
The Blues fought every second at the Emirates, particularly Lauren James, who scored the only goal for Sonia Bompastor’s side.
James came out of nowhere after a fumble in the box from a corner, where Arsenal headed the ball away. Baiting the ball outside the 18-yard-box, the Lionesses forward made the clinical goal look effortless.
The goal was James’ first in two years in the Champion’s League after a return from injury this season.
Arsenal scored their own screamer in the 32nd minute. Fellow Lioness Chloe Kelly rocketed the ball past an unsuspecting Hannah Hampton after a single touch from outside the 18-yard-box, assisted by international teammate Beth Mead.
Two disallowed goals, in the 40th and 90th minute, riddled the game for the Blues. The first came from a VAR decision where Dutch defender Veerle Buurman fouled Spanish defender Laia Codina in a header.
Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan then fouled Arsenal goalkeeper Anneke Borbe for the second disallowed goal of the match.
“It was not good enough,” Bompastor said to BBC Sport. “When you are playing quarter-final of the Champions League you need to have the best referees. Especially when you have the VAR. I think it’s crazy. The goals we got disallowed were actually good goals.”
The Blues’ head coach furthered her statement: “Maybe people will think I am saying that because I am a bad loser and we lost the game. Credit to Arsenal, they won the game and don’t worry about that, that’s not my main concern, but at this level it has to be a lot better.”
Swedish forward Blackstenius began the flurry of goals in the fiery contest when she launched herself for a header in the 22nd minute from a free kick taken by McCabe.
The first leg of the UWCL quarter final ended with 2025 UWCL winners Arsenal at an advantage, but Chelsea will have a chance for a comeback on Wednesday 1st of April at Stamford Bridge.
Last year’s quarter-final saw Chelsesa lose 2-0 to Manchester City away only to return 3-0 at home, leaving this year’s leg up in the air.
