Chelsea secured their 14th consecutive victory across all competitions with a dominant win against FC Twente in the Women’s Champions League. Six different players found the net at Stamford Bridge, with Catarina Macario, Oriane Jean-François, Mayra Ramírez, Erin Cuthbert, Sjoeke Nüsken, and Eve Périsset ensuring the Blues stayed ahead of Real Madrid in Group B with one match remaining.
Having already qualified for the quarter-finals after their win over Celtic, Chelsea aimed for another victory to strengthen their chances of finishing top of the group. Sonia Bompastor’s side has been in outstanding form since the start of the season, and they returned to Stamford Bridge determined to maintain their perfect record.
The Chelsea manager emphasized the importance of a strong squad depth and made several changes to the lineup. Only four players remained from the team that beat Brighton 4-2 in the league, with Niamh Charles making her first start of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury. Captain Millie Bright kept her place in the team, celebrating her tenth anniversary at the club earlier in the week.
FC Twente, on the other hand, were clear underdogs, having been eliminated from the competition and relying on a single win over Celtic to avoid finishing last. Joran Pot’s team is young, with the 25-year-old Van Dooren being their most experienced player. They made one change to the side that defeated Heerenveen 4-0 in the Eredivisie, replacing Amanda Andradóttir with Charlotte Hulst.
Chelsea took the lead within two minutes, as their high press overwhelmed the Twente defense. A quick break involving Ramírez and Macario initially seemed to lose momentum, but Macario’s perfectly executed lob over goalkeeper Olivia Clark gave the hosts an early advantage. The Blues dominated the first half, controlling possession and creating chances, though they initially struggled to convert them.
Twente briefly equalized through a penalty scored by Van Dooren after Maika Hamano was fouled in the box. However, Chelsea quickly regained the lead when Jean-François scored her first goal for the club, dribbling past several defenders. The hosts continued to dominate, with Ramírez adding a third goal from 40 yards out, and Cuthbert scoring on her 50th appearance in the Women’s Champions League.
Substitutions at halftime did little to change the flow of the game, as Chelsea’s fresh legs only increased their dominance. Nüsken, who came on for Nathalie Björn, scored within two minutes of entering the field. A late goal from Périsset sealed a comfortable victory for Chelsea.
With Real Madrid defeating Celtic, the final outcome of Group B will be decided when the two teams face off at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Tuesday.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
