Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as visitors dealt first defeat of season
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea: Vivianne Miedema struck twice off the bench to secure a first-leg advantage
Manchester City ended Chelsea‘s unbeaten season as Vivianne Miedema struck twice off the bench in the first leg of the pair Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
This was second of four encounters between the two sides in a matter of 12 days, with the two legs falling either side of a WSL fixture and following quickly after Saturday’s League Cup final. It was a cagey affair at times with the visitors particularly struggling to find their attacking flow, allowing half-time substitute Miedema to secure a 2-0 first-leg advantage for Nick Cushing’s side. The Dutch striker first volleyed in off the underside of the bar before slotting past Hannah Hampton late on, leaving Manchester City in a strong position heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
For Sonia Bompastor, this was a first defeat as Chelsea manager having gone 28 games unbeaten since arriving in west London. Her side looked a little leggy just days after securing League Cup triumph, and have plenty to do as they return home.
Re-live all of the action from the Joie Stadium in our live blog below:
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 45 minutes
Into stoppage time at the end of the half...or not. The board doesn’t go up, and that’s that.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 42 minutes
Lily Murphy was a junior sprinter of some talent, and shows off her pace as she accelerates up through the gears before Nathalie Bjorn halts her surge. Manchester City can’t make anything of the corner.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 40 minutes
Having said that, there is an almost immediate lull as half time begins to loom into view.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 37 minutes
A nice tempo to this game in the last ten minutes or so. Manchester City test both edges of the Chelsea defence, before Mayra Ramirez tries to burn Laia Aleixandri, knocking it past the centre-half. It’s to no avail, with Aleixandri recovering quickly.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 35 minutes
Nobody there! It’s lovely work from Mayra Ramirez, bounding beyond the Manchester City defence and attempting to pick out a teammate. Lauren James rushes up in support - too far, as it happens, with Ramirez’s pull-back evading her!
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 33 minutes
Not Sandy Baltimore’s best. Mary Fowler times her leap well to head away.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 32 minutes
A clip of the legs from Leila Ouahabi brings down Mayra Ramirez slightly softly - but a free kick is nonetheless awarded, with Chelsea’s larger lumps coming forward to contest the delivery.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 29 minutes
Another snapshot is saved by Hannah Hampton, who is yet to be truly tested despite those couple of early sightings for Jill Roord.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 28 minutes
The first opportunity for Lily Murphy to show off her considerable talent. She puts Lucy Bronze on her heels with a diagonal drive before moving the ball out of her feet to shoot, though is unable to generate the requisite power to really test Hannah Hampton.
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