In a UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final 1st leg tie of few chances, Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in front of a 2,616 crowd at Kingsmeadow Stadium.
Erin Cuthbert might have given Chelsea a first-half lead when seizing on a PSG defensive error but Irene Paredes made a crucial sliding block despite having been booked just 4 minutes in.
After the break, Eve Perisset’s dangerous cross was blocked by Magda Ericsson and then Fran Kirby came off the bench and almost had an instant impact but dragged her shot just wide of the far post.
Blues goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was called upon to make a one-handed flying save to prevent Ashley Lawrence’s effort finding the far corner.
With 17 minutes remaining, Hannah Blundell broke the deadlock for the hosts by cutting inside and picking out the top corner from 20 yards.
Chelsea gained the upper hand and Sophie Ingle was denied by the woodwork but Cuthbert got what could prove to be a massive second goal in the 88th minute.
However, a stoppage-time booking for the Scottish international means she misses the second leg on Wednesday 27th March at the Stade Jean Bouin.
