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Women's Champions League - Quarter-final - 1st Leg
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Ajax 0-3 Chelsea: Sjoeke Nusken double puts visitors in control of Champions League quarter-final

By Callum MatthewsBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Women's Footballcomments288

Chelsea's Sjoeke Nusken scores against Ajax in the Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg
Sjoeke Nusken's goals were her first in European competition

Sjoeke Nusken's double helped Chelsea earn a comfortable win at Ajax and take control of their Women's Champions League quarter-final.

Ajax, who are competing at this stage for the first time, hit the post in the early exchanges but from then on Chelsea dominated to take control of the two-leg tie.

Lauren James opened the scoring after a through ball was intercepted but an attempted clearance rebounded off an Ajax defender into her path.

The England forward calmly rounded the goalkeeper to slot into the empty net, with the video assistant referee (VAR) awarding the goal after it was initially ruled out for offside.

Guro Reiten had a goal disallowed by VAR with Nusken stood in an offside position, but the latter scored Chelsea's second moments later.

The Germany midfielder slid in to meet Reiten's low cross and steer home for her first Champions League goal.

The second half was a more cagey affair with Chelsea showing patience, but Nusken powered home from a brilliant Catarina Macario cross to put Emma Hayes' side in compete control before the second leg.

That takes place at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 27 March.

Barcelona, who beat Chelsea in the 2021 final and 2023 semi-finals, or Braan await in the semi-finals.

Dominant Blues put one foot in semi-finals

Chelsea have been lacklustre at times in the Champions League this season, but this was a very satisfying evening for Hayes' side.

Ajax played in front of 400 fans in their last match, but a Dutch-record 35,997 turned out for this tie and were buoyed when Ajax's all-time leading goalscorer Romee Leuchter curled against the far post from outside the area.

Chelsea soon silenced them with a string of attacks, though.

James showed her usual composure to open the scoring, and net her first in the competition this season, with VAR awarding the goal after a long check.

The technology has only been introduced from this round onwards and Chelsea will be grateful that it has been, but they may feel aggrieved by Reiten's disallowed strike.

The Norway winger initially misjudged a header from a James cross, but the ball landed nicely for her to lash home with her right foot.

An extremely lengthy VAR check followed, with Italian referee Maria Caputi eventually going to the screen and opting to rule the goal out because of Nusken impacting a defender's ability to clear from an offside position.

That frustration only lasted a couple of minutes though, with Nusken superbly drifting into the area to slide on to Reiten's perfect cross.

Nusken, who made her Chelsea debut in October, and Cuthbert both volleyed Reiten crosses over the bar in the second half as Chelsea looked like they may leave the door ajar for Ajax.

That, however, was shut by Nusken, who did brilliantly to get in front of her marker and power a header home from six yards for her fourth goal in two games.

This was a perfect first leg for the quadruple-chasing Blues and, as a result, Hayes may feel she has the option of resting some players next week as the fixtures pile up.

Line-ups

Ajax Women

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1van Eijk
  • 18Keijzer
  • 26Kardinaal
  • 25de Sanders
  • 24de Klonia
  • 10Noordam
  • 21van GoolSubstituted forNoordmanat 87'minutes
  • 20YohannesBooked at 14minsSubstituted forvan de Veldeat 67'minutes
  • 15Grant
  • 7Leuchter
  • 19HoekstraSubstituted forKeukelaarat 73'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Verhoeve
  • 6van de Velde
  • 12Hoekstra
  • 13Niënhuis
  • 16Noordman
  • 17Jansen
  • 22Sabajo
  • 23Keukelaar
  • 29Tolhoek
  • 31van der Wal

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-4-2

  • 24Hampton
  • 15Périsset
  • 7Carter
  • 26Buchanan
  • 21CharlesSubstituted forBeever-Jonesat 87'minutes
  • 19Rytting KanerydSubstituted forLawrenceat 74'minutes
  • 22CuthbertSubstituted forCankovicat 84'minutes
  • 8LeupolzSubstituted forIngleat 87'minutes
  • 11Reiten
  • 6Nüsken
  • 10JamesSubstituted forMacárioat 74'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Musovic
  • 5Ingle
  • 9Macário
  • 12Lawrence
  • 14Kirby
  • 28Cankovic
  • 33Beever-Jones
  • 40Cox
Referee:
Maria Ferrieri Caputi
Attendance:
35,997

Match Stats

Home TeamAjax WomenAway TeamChelsea Women
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home9
Away13
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home2
Away2
Fouls
Home9
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Ajax Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Ajax Women 0, Chelsea Women 3.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by Danique Noordman (Ajax Women).

  4. Post update

    Corner, Ajax Women. Conceded by Kadeisha Buchanan.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lotte Keukelaar (Ajax Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nadine Noordam.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women).

  7. Post update

    Jonna van de Velde (Ajax Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beever-Jones replaces Niamh Charles.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Women. Sophie Ingle replaces Melanie Leupolz.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Ajax Women. Danique Noordman replaces Rosa van Gool.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jelena Cankovic replaces Erin Cuthbert.

  12. Goal!

    Goal! Ajax Women 0, Chelsea Women 3. Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Catarina Macário with a cross.

  13. Post update

    Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Jonna van de Velde (Ajax Women).

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Milicia Keijzer (Ajax Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rosa van Gool with a cross following a corner.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Ajax Women. Conceded by Niamh Charles.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Women. Catarina Macário replaces Lauren James.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Women. Ashley Lawrence replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Ajax Women. Lotte Keukelaar replaces Tiny Hoekstra.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross.

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288 comments

  • Comment posted by RON, at 01:46 19 Mar

    Womens football has come on leaps and bounds we are seeing personalities like the men express themselves none more than Erin Cuthbert. Emma has given the armband to this little scot battleship and she has delivered. Bringing Ajax back here with a narrow margin will be the aim.Chelsea need to start like they did against Arsenal they should get through over the 2 legs.

    • Reply posted by Harrywrag, at 05:10 19 Mar

      Harrywrag replied:
      Great to see a sensible comment like this.

  • Comment posted by AlnMac, at 20:29 18 Mar

    The big test will come in the semi final ties against Barcelona

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 21:21 19 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      They don't stand a chance

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 19:49 18 Mar

    Best wishes to Erin Cuthbert and her teammates.

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 20:23 18 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      And that's what it will stay Erin..... A dream.

  • Comment posted by George Richardson, at 20:02 18 Mar

    Chelsea always raise their game at the business end of the season. Regardless of how the season ends, so proud of this team

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 20:24 18 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      Yet can't handle the champions league...which is the real business

  • Comment posted by Leanne, at 20:24 18 Mar

    Good Luck Chelsea.

    #MCFC #Lionesses

    • Reply posted by guitarman, at 15:38 19 Mar

      guitarman replied:
      well said, someone with a bit of class.

  • Comment posted by Michelle, at 19:48 19 Mar

    Grevster's looking a little miffed now....

  • Comment posted by S_1iM, at 21:56 18 Mar

    The team, the manager & the fans deserve to bring the one title that has eluded us, we’ve won everything else, but the European title, Chelsea definitely have the team to win it… c’mon you blues. We’ve got this..

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 11:11 19 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      You really ain't got nothing I. Europe

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 20:14 19 Mar

    Great first leg result. Congrats to Erin & the team.
    Love that she's such a little terrier and battler on the ball and off. COYB!

  • Comment posted by Shrimpersfc, at 20:16 19 Mar

    Very good away performance, should see them through. Hoping they pull it off this season, won't be easy, but you never know.

    • Reply posted by Chelsea1967, at 20:35 19 Mar

      Chelsea1967 replied:
      Still think winning the CL is beyond us but we'll see. Should now get passed Ajax but Barca are 'different gravy' and we'll have to move the ball a lot quicker as some o defending is snail pace and we risk getting caught in possession. Well done tonight though.

  • Comment posted by bensondog, at 06:55 19 Mar

    not a single mention of the word "record"...now thats a record

    • Reply posted by Randall11, at 20:25 19 Mar

      Randall11 replied:
      Unfortunately Dutch-record has been mentioned post match lol

  • Comment posted by fearless334, at 19:59 19 Mar

    Great to see the Chelsea woman doing so well, been an avid follower of female football for years just get better and better, and am now not just me and a dog watching the games, long may it continue to grow, and more and more of us file through the turnstiles

  • Comment posted by 2024HateandWar, at 20:38 19 Mar

    Chelsea wipe the floor with Ajax

    • Reply posted by herden walwarth, at 20:53 19 Mar

      herden walwarth replied:
      Here's one prepped for the 2nd Leg, just in case: Ajax make Chelsea look like pensioners

  • Comment posted by super Ayr, at 12:26 19 Mar

    Wee Erin your Scotland's best player

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 12:28 19 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      Not exactly busting with talent though as a nation

  • Comment posted by Paul the Canary, at 20:52 19 Mar

    Wouldn’t it be great if we could just enjoy each game as it comes. It’s a win in Europe, enjoy it and ignore the sad individuals that are the trolls.

  • Comment posted by john clarke, at 22:05 19 Mar

    Was I mistaken regarding Reiten's disallowed goal? The Ajax player that was trying to defend the cross went beyond the touchline, then put her right foot back in play leaving the Chelsea player onside?

    • Reply posted by brianusedtobe8, at 22:12 19 Mar

      brianusedtobe8 replied:
      No, I think you absolutely correct.

  • Comment posted by ga, at 19:50 19 Mar

    Emma Hayes will be sorely missed

    • Reply posted by Wolston, at 21:08 19 Mar

      Wolston replied:
      She lost on the European stage

  • Comment posted by G-Dog, at 22:27 19 Mar

    35,997 at the Johan Cruyff Arena. This has been both a win for Chelsea and a win for women's football in the Netherlands.

  • Comment posted by Chris, at 22:33 19 Mar

    It was very much a game of football and there were three goals in total.

  • Comment posted by Harry84, at 22:11 18 Mar

    I just want her, Nusken and Leupolz to really boss the middle of the park. They will really need to be on it the next 3 games. Tight passing, getting into space for each other, winning 2nd balls etc. They can do it but there aren’t sterner tests than Barca and I’m sure Ajax will be tough too.

    • Reply posted by Harry84, at 19:51 19 Mar

      Harry84 replied:
      Well I called it so bring on the downvotes :d

  • Comment posted by guitarman, at 20:02 19 Mar

    well done chels, onto the next game.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Barcelona Femenino65102752216
2Benfica Women6231912-39
3Eintracht Frankfurt Ladies62139817
4Rosengård Women6015323-201

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lyon Féminines64202552014
2Brann Women641197213
3Slavia Prague Women6123313-105
4St. Pölten Women6015214-121

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Paris Saint-Germain Féminines6312108210
2Ajax Women631278-110
3FC Bayern München Ladies61418807
4Roma Femminile61231011-15

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea Women64201551014
2Häcken Women632165111
3Paris FC Féminines6213511-67
4Real Madrid Femenino6015510-51
View full Women's Champions League tables

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