Manchester City ended Chelsea’s 31-game unbeaten streak at the Joie Stadium on Wednesday, claiming a much-needed 2-0 win in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie thanks to a Vivianne Miedema double.
In the second of four successive meetings between the two sides, City got their revenge for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea in the Subway Women’s League Cup final at Pride Park.
Miedema made a world of difference after coming on at half-time, whipping the ball into the roof of the net on the hour mark before bagging her second of the evening in the 88th minute to give the hosts a comfortable advantage.
As it happened
After a closely contested meeting just a few days ago, the first half of Wednesday’s match was a close one. City had six shots to Chelsea’s two, with the visitors seeing much more of the ball. Sonia Bompastor’s side were said to be favourites in the tie following their Subway Women’s League Cup triumph, but the Blues struggled in the final third.
But the half-time introduction of Vivianne Miedema, at the expense of Lily Murphy, brought Nick Cushing’s City side to life. Kerolin, on European debut, sent in a cross that was narrowly missed by Miedema – but just moments later, the Cityzens capitalised.
Chelsea cleared a corner, only for it to be picked up by Mary Fowler, who pinged the ball back into the box. Laia Aleixandri was able to rattle the crossbar, with the ball falling for Miedema to then bury the chance into the roof of the net from close range.
Just minutes later, the Dutch forward challenged Hannah Hampton again, but her shot was kept out by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
As the 70-minute mark approached, Chelsea found the back of the net through Mayra Ramírez, but the offside flag went up to quickly halt the visitors’ celebrations. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was next in line to take a shot on goal, but her effort clipped the crossbar.
Miedema completed her double in the 88th minute, extending City’s lead, after collecting Kerolin’s ball in the box, and slipping it into the bottom corner past a despairing Hampton.
City have ended Chelsea’s unbeaten streak of 31 games this season, handing the visitors their first defeat under Sonia Bompastor ahead of this weekend’s clash in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Their fourth and final fixture against each other will take place at Stamford Bridge next Thursday, where City will look to defend their 2-0 advantage.
The lineups
MCI: Yamashita; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Roord, Hasegawa, Park; Kerolin, Fowler, Murphy
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Baltimore; Cuthbert, Walsh; Beever-Jones, Macario, James; Ramirez