Chelsea vs Ajax LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and final score from quarter-final tonight
Chelsea 1-1 Ajax (4-1 on agg.): The Blues returned to the semi-finals as Mayra Ramirez scored at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea and Emma Hayes remain on course for a first Women’s Champions League title as the Blues completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Ajax at Stamford Bridge to return to the semi-finals.
Chelsea were in control of the tie after claiming an impressive 3-0 win in Amsterdam last week and advanced courtesy of a 1-1 draw that allowed Hayes to rest key players ahead of Sunday’s League Cup final against Arsenal.
Chelsea almost fell behind to a comedy goal as goalkeeper Zecira Musovic’s clearance deflected off Ajax attacker Tiny Hoekstra and almost cannoned into the empty net.
But record signing Mayra Ramirez then put Chelsea on course for the semi-finals as Erin Cuthbert won the ball back in midfield and Guro Reiten slipped a pass through to the Colombian to finish past goalkeeper Regina van Eijk’s legs.
Hayes had made six changes with Sunday’s League Cup final against Arsenal on the horizon, and Ajax managed to pull one back in the second half as Chasity Grant finished under Musovic to prevent Chelsea from extending their winning run. Musovoic was then forced into two outstanding fingertip saves to prevent defeat on the night.
The Blues could now face a semi-final rematch with Champions League holders Barcelona, who will take a 2-1 lead into their second leg against Norwegian side Brann tomorrow night. Follow live updates from Chelsea vs Ajax in tonight’s live blog and get the latest match odds and Women’s Champions League tips, here.
Hayes on beating Ajax last time
Emma Hayes was simple when summing up what separated the sides when they last met in the Women’s Champions League and highlighted what makes the difference for Chelsea.
“I think we showed our experience for sure,” she said. “Calm, composed, even when it’s not perfect we keep our heads, good discipline.
“I think that was the big difference.”
Chelsea vs Ajax team news!
Team news! Chelsea make six changes from the first leg but still look strong. Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken drop to the bench and are rested ahead of Sunday’s cup final. Mayra Ramirez starts and leads the line, while there are also starts for Fran Kirby and Aggie Beever-Jones.
Chelsea XI: Musovic, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Perisset, Cuthbert, Ingle, Reiten, Kirby, Beever-Jones, Ramirez
Ajax XI: Van Eijk, Kardinaal, Spitse, De Sanders, de Klonia, Noordam, van Gool, Van de Velde, Grant, Leuchter, Tiny Hoekstra
League Cup final not on Hayes’ mind
Emma Hayes has admitted that her team are fully focused on getting the job done against Ajax tonight in order to reach the WCL semi-finals and will not be distracted by the prospect of the League Cup final on Sunday.
“I’m not thinking about Sunday, I am only thinking about tomorrow,” she stated in a pre-match press conference ahead of the match.
“We know Ajax are going to come out and be aggressive. We’re expecting that as they have to. We’re prepared for the aggression and their learnings [from the first leg].
“They’re a good side and it’s important for us to keep all of our focus and attention on tomorrow.”
Hayes not taking Ajax lightly
Emma Hayes insists Chelsea will not be taking Ajax lightly this evening despite holding a 3-0 lead in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie.
Ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Hayes said: “The fear of not being in that semi-final is as big a drive as our desire to win. In fact, it’s more.
“There is no one in our dressing room who will take tomorrow’s game lightly or think, just because we’re winning 3-0, that the game is over.
“That is a mistake. It all starts in your mind. When a team has nothing to lose, they play with freedom and they’re often the most dangerous opponents.”
Lauren James leads Chelsea’s stroll around Arsenal to take control of WSL title race
Perhaps Arsenal needed to spend longer browsing the Chelsea club shop. A collection of black Chelsea away socks, complete with blue trim and a white lion on the calf, may have been acquired at the last moment to prevent a kit-clash, but what Arsenal needed most was an answer to Lauren James. A half-hour delay to kick-off did not give Jonas Eidevall enough time to come up with a solution, either, though the rest of the Women’s Super League would have struggled on this form.
James was unstoppable, unplayable, once again turning Stamford Bridge into her personal playground as Chelsea moved a step closer to a fifth consecutive title with a 3-1 thrashing of their rivals. For Arsenal, being sent to the Chelsea megastore could have been put down as a minor embarrassment had they turned up for the delayed kick-off. Instead, Arsenal arrived for their biggest game of the season and ambled to a disorganised, incoherent display. But, really, enough about the socks.
Lauren James leads Chelsea’s stroll around Arsenal to take control of WSL title race
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal: The England international produced a player-of-the-match display as Sjoeke Nusken scored twice and the champions went three points clear
Will Hayes make changes?
With a looming League Cup final against Arsenal on the horizon this weekend, you may be forgiven in thinking Emma Hayes would not be keen to risk her main stars for tonight’s WCL second leg, especially with Chelsea holding a big aggregate lead.
However, the Chelsea manager says she does not intend on significantly rotating her squad and will be treating Ajax with the respect they deserve.
Hayes did report that defender Nathalie Bjorn is not available for the second leg having not completed a full training session on Tuesday morning.
Chelsea should ease through to semis
The Blues have already done the hard work in this quarter-final tie and now just need to see out the game at Stamford Bridge to punch their ticket to the semi-finals.
Emma Hayes’ team were excellent in Amsterdam, taking early control of the game through Lauren James before Sjoeke Nusken’s brace handed them complete command of the tie.
Ajax are going to need to produce something special to have any hope of advancing to the last four. They did score three goals in their win over PEC Zwolle in Eredivisie Women at the weekend, although they shipped three in return.
Chelsea are on a relentless run of form, winning their last six and conceding one goal in the process. Their one defeat at home this term came against Super League title rivals Manchester City on a day to forget for Hayes’ outfit.
Ramirez back for Blues?
Mayra Ramírez has recovered from injury and could make her first European appearance for Chelsea since her January move from Levante – for who she played in round 1 against Stjarnan and Ajax’s Dutch rivals Twente (losing 3-2 from 2-0 up).
Chelsea pass Ajax test to keep Emma Hayes on course for Women’s Champions League final send-off
Last time out against Ajax, Chelsea cruised to a dominant and healthy 3-0 win. Here’s how they did it:
The climax of Emma Hayes’ dynasty is fast approaching and there is only one form that they will want that climax to take. Much still needs to be done before Chelsea can ensure her final game is the Champions League final, but the manner of their quarter-final first leg victory over Ajax showed that they would be fitting finalists.
It wasn’t pretty; it definitely wasn’t easy. That, however, is the crucial part. Chelsea were tested, they struggled to find their best rhythm, but they were patient and it paid dividends.
It was Ajax who had the better of the starts on Tuesday, spurred on by a record crowd for a women’s game in the Netherlands, their vocal home support, and the knowledge that they had a point to prove.
Chelsea pass Ajax test to keep Hayes on course for UWCL final send-off
Ajax 0-3 Chelsea: Emma Hayes’ side get the hard work done in the first leg ahead of the Stamford Bridge return
Chelsea vs Ajax prediction
Chelsea should wrap up a big win even with a rotated side - then their full focus will turn to the semi-final clash with Barcelona, in all probability.
Chelsea 4-0 Ajax.
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