Chelsea Women’s team secured a commanding victory against Ajax in the Women’s Champions League quarter-final, with Sjoeke Nusken’s brace leading the way for Emma Hayes’ side.
Ajax, making their first appearance at this stage of the competition, started brightly with an early shot hitting the post. However, Chelsea soon took control of the match.
Lauren James opened the scoring for Chelsea after intercepting a through ball, with her shot deflecting off an Ajax defender and finding the net. Initially ruled out for offside, VAR intervened and awarded the goal.
Despite having a goal disallowed by VAR due to Nusken’s offside position, Chelsea continued to press, and Nusken herself found the back of the net with a composed finish from a Guro Reiten cross.
In the second half, Chelsea maintained their dominance, with Nusken sealing her brace with a powerful header from a Catarina Macario delivery.
The victory puts Chelsea in a strong position heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 27 March. The winner of this tie will face either Barcelona or Braan in the semi-finals.
Chelsea’s performance was particularly satisfying, considering their occasional lacklustre displays in the Champions League this season.
The match also saw a Dutch-record crowd of 35,997 fans in attendance, providing a vibrant atmosphere for the encounter.
Overall, it was a perfect first leg for Chelsea as they aim to continue their quest for a quadruple under the guidance of Emma Hayes
