Chelsea’s late drama not enough as Arsenal reach Champions League semi-finals

Arsenal Women lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Despite the result, the Gunners progressed to the semi-final with a 3-2 victory on aggregate.

Sjoeke Nusken squandered a golden chance to give Chelsea an early lead, sending the ball wide following a brilliant team-move.

Moments later, Arsenal got their first chance with Alessia Russo firing a shot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

Alyssa Thompson then dragged a shot wide from 20 yards as both sides continued the search for the opening goal.

Arsenal were forced to make a substitution before half-time as Steph Catley went off injured and was replaced by Taylor Hinds.

Daphne van Domselaar made her first save shortly after the break, pushing Sam Kerr’s powerful shot over the bar.

Lauren James, who scored the Blues’ only goal in the first leg came close to breaking the deadlock with an effort aimed for the top corner, but it could only land on the roof of the net.

Russo was presented with a chance to put Arsenal ahead in the 72nd minute, but she could not hit the target.

Shortly after, Stina Blackstenius let another opportunity go begging, heading Beth Mead’s precise cross over from a promising position.

Blackstenius thought she had sealed the tie when she headed Smilla Holmberg’s delivery into the net, only for her effort to be deemed offside.

Hampton then denied Russo with a brilliant save after the Arsenal forward attempted to lob her.

The game ended frenetically with Nusken and Veerle Buurman striking the woodwork in close succession before Mead suffered the same fate at the other end.

Nusken eventually broke the deadlock in stoppage time with a fine strike.

Chelsea thought they had been denied a penalty before the final whistle, leading to the sending off of coach Sonia Bompastor and bringing an end to an exhilarating contest.

The post Chelsea’s late drama not enough as Arsenal reach Champions League semi-finals first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.