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.
How to watch Chelsea vs Ajax
In the UK, the fixture will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and DAZN.com.
How do the teams compare?
Despite a hectic schedule for March, Chelsea have conjured a run of six consecutive victories in which they have scored 14 goals and kept five clean sheets.
They reclaimed the top spot of the Women’s Super League table with a victory over West Ham and progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals and League Cup final.
Ajax meanwhile occupy second place in the Eredivisie and trail pace setters FC Twente by four points in what appears to be a two-horse race for the Dutch title.
With only one league defeat to their name after 18 matches, the visitors will arrive in London determined to put up a fight and attempt to overturn their big deficit.
Erin Cuthbert still dreaming of first Champions League trophy with Chelsea
Cuthbert said: “It would mean everything to get to the final and to go on and win it. But you know, I’ve been at this club so long, it’s all about a process.
“I think we’re in the quarter-finals now. Tough games against a really tough team who have more than proved themselves at this level.
“So I think we’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough game tomorrow, but of course it’s hard not to dream a little bit. You are a football player, but at the same time I’ve been so well-drilled under Emma that it is very process-oriented.”
This time last year, Chelsea were knocking out French heavyweights Lyon on penalties in a dramatic night at Stamford Bridge.
But there are no such problems this time around: Lyon are back in the semi-finals having beaten Benfica 3-1 in the south of France - 5-2 on aggregate.
They are the first side through and will play either Paris Saint-Germain or Bracken. The winner of Chelsea vs Ajax will take on either Barcelona or Brann.
Cuthbert on working with Hayes
“Emma [Hayes] knows how to get at me, that is for sure, over the course of the time working with her,” admitted Chelsea captain Erin Cuthbert.
“She knows how to provoke me and find a little bit of an animal inside me, and she knows that as well. She knows how to wind me up.
“But Sjoeke has been in brilliant form as well and we’ve needed her at this time in the season. Maybe I’m doing a bit more defensive work than she is but I think everyone’s going to have their moment this season.
“On Sunday it was mine and Aggie’s moment, the week before it was Sjoeke’s and we need everyone to contribute over this period when we have so many games. You have to be ready when that moment comes.”
Bakker on facing Chelsea
Ajax coach Suzanne Bakker said: “We know three goals is quite a big difference but as I said last week, the ball is round and everything is still possible.
“We want to show that we are quick to learn and that this is an extra experience for us. We’ve learned about defending inside the box, we will show that we have learned our lesson. “
Cuthbert on captaining Chelsea
Midfielder Erin Cuthbert is captaining Chelsea in the absence of Millie Bright and Sam Kerr who are both injured.
“It is taking more responsibility,” she said at Tuesday’s press conference. “Everyone looks to you and your behaviours on the pitch and I have to be super-conscious of what I’m doing, how I’m perceived, when maybe I haven’t really thought of that before.
“I need to take a bit more of a role off the pitch as well than I previously have.”
Emma Hayes hails Sjoeke Nusken’s versatility
Emma Hayes hailed Sjoeke Nusken after the German scored her second brace in as many games during Chelsea’s 3-0 first-leg victory over Ajax in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The versatile forward came into the game on a high from her double in the Blues’ 3-1 win over title rivals Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on Friday.
Her double came after England winger Lauren James scored the opener at Johan Cruijff ArenA.
I might give her a game in goal – Emma Hayes hails Sjoeke Nusken’s versatility
The forward scored twice after Lauren James opened the scoring in Holland.
‘Ajax have learned from first leg'
Ajax midfielder, Rosa van Gool, says her team have analysed where they went wrong in the first leg against Chelsea and hope to rectify their mistakes at Stamford Bridge this evening.
She said: “We started very well [in the first leg] and had a big chance early on. Then it became a bit more difficult down the middle and we started struggling a bit.
“But we’ve analysed it and learned from the situation, and I think we will be able to show that.”
Hayes’ Chelsea era won’t be defined by Champions League
During her tenure as manager of Chelsea Women Emma Hayes has won every trophy except the Women’s Champions League.
Her squad has come close a few times and has the ability to go all the way this season but Hayes, who is leaving the club at the end of the campaign, says that winning or losing the WCL will not define her legacy with the Blues.
“Of course if I was able to win the Champions League in my time here it would be another unbelievable achievement,” she said. “But I’ve said it time and time again, for my era to be defined by one competition is probably not what matters most to me.’”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments