Ajax v Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as Nusken scores twice in big away win
Chelsea travel to Amsterdam for their quarter-final first leg against underdogs Ajax
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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. Follow all the reaction below. Get the latest match odds here.
66’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
First sub of the game - Yohannes replaced by Van de Velde.
Straight swap, the youngster was on a booking in midfield.
Van Eijk tested a couple of times in succession now; James curls the second attempt on target but her left-footed shot just lacks a bit of power.
62’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
Noordam tries to surge through midfield and is challenged by...the referee. A stray arm to the head halts the Ajax player’s momentum and the flow of the game - she’s none too impressed as you can imagine.
Leuchter, who recently became Ajax’s all-time top scorer, chops down Buchanan by the touchline and the stop-start nature of this second 45 minutes continues.
Charles makes ground down the left but her cross is cut-out; a lofted pass from the right then finds Reiten who tees up Nusken - but her shot is miles over. Came at her fast, couldn’t quite control it.
58’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
Approaching the hour mark and the game has been a little scrappy since the restart. Probably suits Chelsea if anything, as they don’t need to force the issue and can exploit any errors on the break.
Reminder of the rest of the quarter-finals:
Benfica vs Lyon - 8pm
Hacken vs PSG - Weds 5:45pm
Brann vs Barcelona - Weds 8pm
Second legs are played on the 27th and 28th of this month.
54’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
Leuchter has been marginalised in this game and so attempts a 35-yard free-kick...goes about that distance over the bar, too.
Nice flowing move down the right side then for Chelsea as they look for a first counter of the second half, but the offside flag is up.
The Blues still just trying to find a foothold since the restart, just trying to slow the game and get some possession.
50’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
Good, positive play from Ajax at the start of the second half but no sight of goal so far. Neat buildup but no shot or numbers in the box at the end of it.
Carter stands firm to defend well on a couple of occasions and Cuthbert turns smartly to avoid the Dutch side’s press.
46’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
We are back underway in Amsterdam for the second half.
Ajax need a big 45 minutes and surely at least a goal, if not a couple and avoiding defeat on the night. Chelsea are extremely strong on home soil - a defeat to Man City a couple of games ago was their first since April last year.
HT - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
A Dutch record crowd for this match - our reporter Adam Millington will be bringing his full-time report from the Amsterdam Arena later on.
HT - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
The best of the celebrations from that first half - all for those in blue on the night.
Lauren James has been excellent, roving from centre-forward to deep areas and out to the left too, where she has caused havoc.
HT - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
There goes the whistle for the break, just after Yohannes - already on a yellow card - commits another foul.
Ajax’s alterations may need to include removing the teenager, who is walking a tightrope here.
45+4’ - Ajax 0-2 Chelsea
Nusken should wrap it up! Great play down the right by Kaneryd and Cuthbert then tees up the German - but her left-footed finish flies wide of the far post this time.
Almost her first two Champions League goals this season in the space of five minutes.
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