Chelsea stormed into the Women’s Champions League semi-finals with a dominant first-half display that overturned a two-goal deficit against Manchester City. Three early goals secured their place in the next round, where they will face reigning champions Barcelona.
The home side had been waiting for a performance that reflected their dominance this season, and they delivered when it mattered most. Goals from Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Björn, and Mayra Ramírez saw Chelsea dismantle City in style. Meanwhile, Barcelona had earlier confirmed their place in the semi-finals with a commanding 10-2 aggregate win over Wolfsburg.
Chelsea’s manager made five changes from the team that had edged past City with a stoppage-time winner in the previous fixture. The ability to rotate players ensured they maintained an intensity that a depleted City squad struggled to match. The visitors were missing key players, including Khadija Shaw, Aoba Fujino, Rebecca Knaak, Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood, Laura Blindkilde Brown, and Ayaka Yamashita, leaving them with only five substitutes on the bench.
Chelsea, too, had absentees, with Naomi Girma, Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, Maelys Mpomé, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Sophie Ingle unavailable, while Zecira Musovic was absent due to pregnancy. However, their depth ensured they remained competitive, and their superior squad strength proved decisive.
From the start, Chelsea played with relentless energy, buoyed by fresh legs and a determination to progress. Their pressing game overwhelmed City, and within 14 minutes, Baltimore capitalized on a Lucy Bronze effort that struck the post, firing into the corner to open the scoring.
City responded briefly, with Mary Fowler and Kerolin testing Hannah Hampton, but Chelsea soon regained control. The equalizer in the tie came in the 37th minute when Baltimore’s corner was met by Björn, whose looping header found the net. Moments before halftime, Lauren James set up Ramírez to turn in a third goal, leaving City stunned and unable to cope with Chelsea’s intensity.
In the second half, Chelsea managed their lead with a more measured approach but remained the dominant side. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert forced saves from Khiara Keating, and Cuthbert came closest to adding a fourth when her effort struck the bar, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd.
City attempted to mount a comeback, knowing a single goal could change the tie, but their defensive vulnerabilities left them exposed. Chelsea continued to threaten on the counterattack, maintaining control until the final whistle.
Having faced City four times in quick succession, Chelsea emerged with three wins and just one defeat the loss in the first leg being the only setback they could afford. With the League Cup already secured, they now march into the Champions League semi-finals in formidable form, eager for a showdown with Barcelona.
