Emma Hayes’ side rewarded a crowd of nearly 2,000 at Kingsmeadow Stadium by building a satisfying three-goal lead over Rosengård to take to Sweden next Wednesday.
UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
ROUND OF 16, 1ST LEG
Wednesday 8th November
BIIK Kazygurt 0-7 Olympique Lyonnais
Brescia 2-3 Montpellier
Gintra Universitetas 0-6 Barcelona
Sparta Prague 1-1 Linköpings
Fiorentina 0-4 VfL Wolfsburg
Chelsea 3-0 Rosengård (Att: 1,891)
Chelsea had a strong start with Katie Chapman forcing a save from Zecira Musovic, the visitors also being rescued by a last-ditch clearance of Maria Thorrisdottir’s effort and the crossbar keeping out Ji So-Yun’s deflected shot.
Crystal Dunn had to hook off her own goal-line to clear Rosengard’s first threat on goal from Ella Masar header but it was Chelsea who would take the lead on 33 minutes. Maren Mjelde fed Fran Kirby, who sent two defenders the wrong way before finding the bottom corner.
There was nearly a second for Kirby before the break but Musovic turned the ball away and when Dunn crossed it back in, the angle was impossible for Chelsea’s scorer.
Ji So-Yun was thwarted by the legs of the visiting keeper, while Madalena Eriksson made a vital intervention to prevent Sanne Troelsgaard from getting through.
Millie Bright had to clear off her line with a diving header after a short corner and Hedvig Lindahl clawed a looping effort away, as Rosengard started the second period much stronger.
Dunn did soon go close for the Blues though but her half-volley was deflected away from goal by Simone Boye Sørensen.
Moments after UWCL top scorer Anja Mittag came off the bench as the Swedish side’s 65th-minute substitute, Ramona Bachmann collected a ball from Ji and fired across the keeper to double the lead.
It was a period of pressure from the home side that brought the third goal on 73 minutes, Kirby’s deflected effort falling for Gilly Flaherty, who tucked the loose ball away.
Eriksson saw her free-kick pushed away by Musovic, while Bright’s timely tackle stopped Mittag getting a clear run on goal and a possible consolation.
You can follow the second leg live next Wednesday on Chelsea’s youtube channel from 5,30pm.
Seven up for Lyon
Holders Lyon effectively dismissed Glasgow City’s conquerors, Kazygurt, after just the away leg. In a 7-0 win, Ada Hegerberg scored twice in either half, including a penalty, Camille Abily, Amel Majri and Eugénie Le Sommer adding one each.
Montpellier lead battling Brescia
French rivals Montpellier also posted a win on the road, all be it a much narrow one, as they twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Brescia. Cristiana Girelli got both goals for the Italian side but Stina Blackstenius and Janice Cayman netted first-half equalisers, before Linda Sembrant won it just before the hour mark.
Barca bang in six
Barcelona are well on their way to the quarter-finals having hit Gintra for six in Lithuania. Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring and Mariona Caldentay netted either side of the break, with one apiece from substitutes Toni Duggan, Olga García and Natasha Andonova.
Linköpings earn away draw
Linköpings scored what could prove to be a precious away goal against Sparta Prague. Falling behind soon after the restart to a Kylie Strom effort, they levelled 7 minutes later through Lina Hartig.
Wolfsburg get four in Fiorentina
Wolfsburg broke the deadlock at Fiorentina in the second half and were 3-0 up by the 60th minute, Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir scoring either side of one from Pernille Harder. Home goalkeeper Stéphanie Öhrström then conceded an own-goal to give the visitors a 4-0 win.
The remaining two 1st leg ties are on Thursday, when Lillestrøm host Manchester City at 5.30pm and then Stjarnan play Slavia Prague at 7pm.
