Chelsea Knock Manchester City Out of Women’s Champions League with Comeback Win
Chelsea staged a stunning comeback to defeat Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate and book their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
After losing the first leg 2-0 at the Joie Stadium, Chelsea needed a big performance at Stamford Bridge, and they delivered. First-half goals from Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, and Mayra Ramirez turned the tie around, securing a 3-0 win on the night and sending them through to the last four.
How Chelsea Won It
City had the advantage from the first leg, but Chelsea started the return match with intensity. They came close early on when Nathalie Bjorn’s header hit the post in the 10th minute. Soon after, Lucy Bronze also struck the woodwork, but the rebound fell kindly for Baltimore, who smashed a powerful shot into the top corner to open the scoring.
City tried to respond, with Mary Fowler forcing a good save from Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. However, the home side kept pushing, and just before half-time, Bjorn headed in from a corner to level the tie on aggregate.
Minutes later, Ramirez pounced on a defensive mistake to put Chelsea 3-2 ahead in the two-legged contest, completing a remarkable first-half turnaround.
City’s Late Push Falls Short
The second half was a tense battle, with fewer clear chances. Khiara Keating kept City in the game with excellent saves from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert. At the other end, Vivianne Miedema had City’s best chance, but her shot went inches wide.
With ten minutes to go, Cuthbert hit the bar, but Chelsea held firm to see out the match and claim a dramatic victory.
What’s Next?
The result means Chelsea advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Spanish giants Barcelona over two legs.
For Manchester City, their European journey ends at the quarter-final stage, and they will now focus on securing qualification for next season’s Champions League and their upcoming FA Cup semi-final.
