22 Apr 202310.13 EDTHere’s Suzy’s report from Stamford Bridge. As she says, Emma Hayes’ Champions League dream remains alive. But it’s a distant dream and you can’t help but feel that Barcelona already have one foot in the final.
Thanks for sticking with me. I enjoyed that. Til next time…
Apart from one mistake that gave Asisat Oshoala a chance to canter towards goal, Jessica Carter had a cracking game.
Jess Carter 2021 UWCL final to Jess Carter 2023 UWCL semi final is the biggest footballing glow up.
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) April 22, 2023For those wondering, and as if there was any doubt, Caroline Graham Hansen was recognised as the player of the match. Not just for her worldie (are we still using that word?) but for her overall play. She was a threat every time she got the ball. One mazy run would have ended in a second goal were it not for a late intervention by Ann-Katrin Berger who came off her line to shove the ball from Hansen’s toes. An outstanding game from the Norwegian winger.
22 Apr 202309.48 EDTI’m seeing loads of chat on the socials regarding the strength of the WSL. It’s a similar debate that’s been bubbling in the men’s game.
What constitutes a strong league? One where four teams are at an eight out of ten level? Or one with one or two teams that can operate at a nine out of ten? Know what I mean?
I think the former. So while Barca might be better than both Chelsea and Arsenal, and Lyon have evidently been the supreme power on the continent, I think the WSL with the two Manchester Clubs alongside the two already mentioned is the most competitive and therefore the best.
But that’s just me. Happy to disagree.
22 Apr 202309.45 EDTThis clearly shows Barca’s dominance. It really could have been a cricket score were it not for the two Chelsea centre backs. Special praise for Mjelde who isn’t ordinarily a first choice pick, but was very strong today.
Chelsea vs Barcelona 0-1
Shotmap#CHEFCB #CHEBAR #UWCL pic.twitter.com/D6S9E3lzwq
This is worth celebrating. And shows what an impact the Lionesses’ glory has had on English football fans.
27,697 - a new British record attendance in the @UWCL at Stamford Bridge today, beating the six-year old record set in Cardiff at the 2017 final. This is likely to be broken again in nine days' times #ChelseaBarça #CHEBAR pic.twitter.com/TFJLk07fAk
— Asif Burhan (@AsifBurhan) April 22, 2023Unfortunately the DAZN broadcast cut off at the full time whistle. So while we wait for Suzy’s report, I’ll keep trawling for quotes and reactions where I can find them.
22 Apr 202309.37 EDTAgree with all of this. Unquestionably a much improved show after the humiliation two years ago. But this was a thumping win by all counts except the final score.
- Clearly, lessons were learned after the 4-0 defeat
-Our defenders were great today
-Its not over until the final whistle
-We can score against them.
-Great to see P back.
-Considering our injuries, I guess the players played really well.
-No pressure, we are the under dogs
Word from Suzy Wrack is that Lucy Bronze is walking around unaided on the pitch. Phew. Some good news for England fans at least.
Full-Time: Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona
Advantage Barca. Chelsea can hold their heads high and know that they have a chance next week when they make the trip to Spain, but that was as dominant a 1-0 win as I’ve ever seen.
A wonder goal in the fourth minute from Hansen was the difference in a game that could have have seen more goals. Torrejon hit the post with a header and Berger in the Chelsea goal had a great game. Barca barely left third gear and will only sweat on the fitness of Bronze who hobbled off the field and watched on with an ice pack on her right knee.
Chelsea rallied after going behind and pressed with great intensity in the first half. Once they flagged in the second they couldn’t get anywhere near their guests.
Reaction and other bits to come.
22 Apr 202309.25 EDT90+4 min: It’s a Barca corner. Oshoala was almost put through but Mjelde is on hand to divert it safely away.
22 Apr 202309.24 EDT90+2 min: Panos takes an age to get things going with a goal kick and cops a yellow card for time wasting. Not sure that was necessary. Her team have been so dominant this second half.
22 Apr 202309.23 EDT90+1 min: There’ll be four added minutes in total. Torrejon can’t direct her header on target from a corner. Do or die time for Chelsea who have a throw in the right area of the park thanks to a rare poor kick from Panos.
22 Apr 202309.22 EDT89 min: James break free of a tackle and then rides another two before passing forward to Kerr. She can’t find her and Barca are back at them. Rolfe hammers a strike from inside the box and Berger is at full stretch to keep it out of the top corner and tip it behind for a corner.
22 Apr 202309.21 EDT88 min: Oshoala can’t bring that long ball under her spell. She’s been full of running since she came on. Quite unbelievable how good this Barca team is. Must be maddening playing against them.
22 Apr 202309.20 EDT87 min: Barca’s corner is steered away by another strong defensive header. Chelsea just can’t get hold of the ball. Barca are metronomic in the way they exchange passes.
22 Apr 202309.19 EDT86 min: Oshoalo picks Carter’s pocket and runs towards goal. No one is there to help so she has to go backwards to Bonmati.
22 Apr 202309.17 EDT84 min: Triple changes for both teams.
Chelsea bring on Harderm Fleming and Rytting Kaneryd for Reiten, Leupolz and Perisset.
Barca pull their goalscorer Hansen, as well as Walsh and Paralluelo for Oshoala, Engen or Crnogorcevic.
22 Apr 202309.15 EDT83 min: Thank goodness for the Chelsea centre backs who have both been outstanding. Mjelde’s clearance from Rolfe’s cross was as good as any we’ve seen.
22 Apr 202309.14 EDT82 min: Barca have hit the post! A header from Torrejon at the far post pings back off the upright. Chelsea break with James but she can’t find Kerr.
Updated at 09.22 EDT22 Apr 202309.13 EDT81 min: Carter blocks a stiff shot from outside the box and it spirals away for a corner. Both teams clearing the benches. Three changes each after this corner.
22 Apr 202309.12 EDT80 min: Caldentey’s switched pass to Rolfe is a good one. Bonmati and Caldentey play a neat one-two. Hansen on the wing keeps the attack going. Even when Chelsea complete a successful challenge Barca steal in to win it back. Paralluelo’s cross is cleared by the head of Carter . A second feels inevitable now.
78 min: Chelsea are playing like a team without an idea. To be fair to them, Barca have been so good this half. But the home team simply have to show more right now. They’re defending again. Paralluelo’s shot from a tight angle is easy pickings for Berger.
22 Apr 202309.08 EDT76 min: Kerr has had nothing but scraps this half. She’s battling up field and does well to force a clearance that goes out for a throw in inside Barca’s territory. Nothing comes of it though. The women in gold have the ball back.
22 Apr 202309.07 EDT75 min: A weaving run from Bonmati is followed by a good pass out wide to Hansen. Her cross is too deep for Caldentey. Still, it’s all Barca right now.
22 Apr 202309.06 EDTThe cameras just cut to Lucy Bronze with an ice pack on her right knee.
22 Apr 202309.06 EDT74 min: Bonmati and Walsh are running the show in midfield. Rolfe has the ball again in a very advanced position, at the byline inside the Chelsea box. Her cross doesn’t beat Berger.
22 Apr 202309.04 EDT72 min: Kerr is freed down the left. A great run is met by an equally good ball. But she rushes her own pass to James at the edge of the area and it’s cleared by Barca. Need more composure in those areas.
22 Apr 202309.03 EDT70 min: Barca are playing this perfectly. Their midfield is keeping Chelsea at arm’s length and the front three are starved of ball. James, in her frustration, lashes out at a 50/50 ball and gets a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
22 Apr 202309.01 EDTBronze was replaced by Torrejon, by the way.
22 Apr 202309.01 EDT68 min: Chelsea need to rediscover that intensity in midfield. They win a 50-50 and Charles swing a ball in from the left. Barca counter through Hansen who has switched wings again. She’s charging down the left but the final pass to Paralluelo in the box is just a bit behind her.
22 Apr 202308.59 EDT67 min: Substitution for Chelsea. Cuthbert leaves after a top shift in the middle of the park. Ingle takes her place.
22 Apr 202308.59 EDTInjury for Lucy Bronze
66 min: Oh no. Lucy Bronze has left the field with a limp. Not sure what’s up. But that’s another injury scare for an important England player.
65 min: Hansen digs out a cross with her right foot from the right and it finds its way to the back post. The header back towards the chicken box is accurate as well but Chelsea’s scramble defence clears the danger before Caldentey can steer it in.
22 Apr 202308.56 EDT64 min: A chance for Chelsea to swing in a cross from a free kick from the left. It' goes to the back post. They get another bite at it and Cuthbert puts her head through a looping ball. It’s directed towards goal but there’s no power on it. Panos gathers.
22 Apr 202308.55 EDT63 min: Caldentey gets on her bike and runs with the ball through the heart of Chelsea’s midfield. She plays it on for Hansen and then gets it back. The cut-back cross doesn’t find a teammate but the ball spills for Bronze who is very advanced. Chelsea just about scramble it away.
22 Apr 202308.53 EDT61 min: Chelsea can’t get close enough to the Barca midfield. Are they missing Cankovic? Was the James substitute premature?
22 Apr 202308.52 EDT60 min: Caldentey into the action immediately. She’s linking with Rolfe. The play switches to Hansen and then Bronze on the far side. Walsh has it in the middle of the park. barca bossing the ball.
22 Apr 202308.51 EDT58 min: Slick from Barca again. Paralluelo’s clever back heel funds Geyse on the run inside the box. The shot is tame. That’ll be Geyse’s last contribution. Caldentey is on.
22 Apr 202308.48 EDT56 min: Excellent from Mjelde. Geyse charges towards the byline but the Chelsea centre back is strong and smart and bumps the Barca forward into touch and watches the ball trickle for a goal kick.
22 Apr 202308.47 EDT55 min: Berger’s hacked clearance is plucked down by Bronze. Barca bossing the tempo now. Slowing things down. Chelsea need to get a move on but they’re too rushed. The long ball to Kerr is impossible to control.
22 Apr 202308.45 EDT53 min: James shoots and finds the target. Panos spills after the ball reaches her on the bounce. That would have been a bolt out of the blue had that found the net. Great energy from James.
But Barca are back up the field and Hansen cuts onto her left foot. She shoots, but without the accuracy she showed with her goal. Goal kick for Chelsea.
End to end. This is great fun!
22 Apr 202308.44 EDT52 min: Hansen goes short with the corner from the left. She gets it back and delivers from a more favourable angle. Berger gathers the cross with composure. The Chelsea keeper is having a top game.
22 Apr 202308.43 EDT50 min: Barca seem to posses extra gears that they can access at will. All of a sudden they’re camped inside Chelsea territory. Now they have a corner which is played short for Walsh. Her ball to the back post is an inviting one but it allows Berger to come off her line and tip it behind for another corner.
49 min: Barca content to let Chelsea play with the ball in their own half. They’re happy to wait before launching a press. They do so with great efficiency and Walsh has the ball. Rolfe crosses and it’s cleared but only as far as Paralluelo who shots from inside the box. Mjelde stands strong and blocks.
22 Apr 202308.40 EDT48 min: Geyse does really well to get past Eriksson down the right. She’s flicking the ball before passing on to Hansen. There’s no space to shoot so Rolfe in an advanced position takes it on through the left channel. Chelsea defend well and it’ll be a goal kick.
22 Apr 202308.39 EDT47 min: Not sure if the volume has been turned up at DAZN HQ but it seems that the crowd is more vocal at the start of this half.
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