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:
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Chelsea (Vivianne Miedema, 60 minutes)
The deadlock is broken! A crucial goal off the bench from Vivianne Miedema!
It had to be her. Manchester City build pressure as Chelsea fail to clear a corner. Hannah Hampton makes an extraordinary save from a header but succeeds only in tipping on to the bar, and Miedema is on hand to volley home the rebound. What a goalscorer she is!
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 58 minutes
A vital defensive header from Lucy Bronze! Kerolin blasts by Millie Bright and seems to have picked out Vivianne Miedema, but the Lionesses right-back bravely heads away.
Alterations for Chelsea. Keira Walsh and Lauren James depart as Sonia Bompastor freshens things up; Sjoeke Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd are on.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 56 minutes
Manchester City are limited in terms of options on the bench, with Nick Cushing only naming seven of the permitted 10 substitutes - and I doubt we’ll see goalkeeper Khiara Keating or Katie Startup get a go.
Laura Coombs looks to be warming up most strenuously.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 54 minutes
Goalless we remain, then, nearly an hour into this two-legged tie.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 53 minutes
Millie Bright just about stays with the pacey Kerolin, showing all of her intelligence and experience to time her slide and block a cross.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 51 minutes
Mayra Ramirez has looked the likeliest Chelsea player to open Manchester City up, and Gracie Prior clatters through the back of the striker after being defeated by some neat feat. The resultant delivery is poor, though.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 48 minutes
Lauren James unleashes a laser of a strike from 25 yards after a free kick is played short, though Ayaka Yamashita, as she has been all night so far, is unruffled, shuffling to her left and saving.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 47 minutes
Vivianne Miedema has gone up front, with Mary Fowler moving out to the left.
Second half...
A change at the interval from Manchester City - and, unsurprisingly, it’s Vivianne Miedema that Nick Cushing turns to to try and find a way through the Chelsea defence. Lily Murphy is replaced.
Chelsea will make a switch, too: Wieke Kaptein replaces Catarina Macario, who wasn’t at her best in the first half. Back underway.
HT: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
No goals, then, and not much in the way of goalmouth action to dig into, either. At least there are no problems with the pitch - both teams have popped the ball about rather well at times, and you sense this is a contest that could yet open up. This is always the fear with two-legged ties, though, with neither willing to risk too much knowing that there is still 90 minutes more to come next week.
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