SUBSTITUTE VIVIANNE MIEDEMA scored a brace as Manchester City inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat of the season by beating them 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Joie Stadium.
Miedema, having come off the bench for the start of the second half, put City in front on the hour mark, rifling in the rebound when Hannah Hampton tipped Laia Aleixandri’s header against the crossbar.
And after Chelsea substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had struck the bar at the other end in the 80th minute, Miedema added her second with two minutes of normal time remaining to give City a two-goal advantage heading into next Thursday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
That match will complete a series of four successive meetings between the sides, which started with Chelsea’s 2-1 triumph on Saturday in the League Cup final at Pride Park that gave them their first trophy under boss Sonia Bompastor.
They have now suffered a maiden loss of the Frenchwoman’s tenure, ending an unbeaten run of 28 games since she took charge last summer – of which 26 were wins – and 31 matches in total.
City, meanwhile, have a first win of Nick Cushing’s interim tenure after he replaced Gareth Taylor ahead of the quartet of fixtures, which continues with Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Irish duo Tara O’Hanlon and Eve O’Carroll are on the books at City, though neither were involved in tonight’s matchday squad as they recover from injuries.
Defending champions Barcelona are on track for the final four after a dominant 4-1 win in their quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg.
Unlike the 2023 Champions League final between the same two opponents, won narrowly 3-2 by Barcelona who came from two goals down, Wednesday’s clash was an uneven affair.
A first-half own-goal by Caitlin Dijkstra, followed up by two strikes in quick succession in the second period by Irene Paredes and Salma Paralluelo put the visitors firmly in control.
Janina Minge pulled one back inside the final 15 minutes for Wolfsburg, before Sydney Schertenleib added a late fourth.
Uefa Women’s Champions League results
Quarter-finals, first leg
Played Wednesday
- Wolfsburg 1-4 Barcelona
- Man City 2-0 Chelsea
Played Tuesday
- Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
- Bayern Munich 0-2 Lyon
With reporting from Press Association
The sandwiches will go down well on the way home
Any day that Kilkenny get beat, is automatically a good day.
@Joe Almiron: Thats so harsh hahaha
I know they’re the most successful county in hurling and all that, but the amount of incredible sporting moments Kilkenny teams and players have given us over the years has been brilliant. And I even say that as a Dublin and Tipp fan myself.
Only the league but Tipp are a transformed team in terms of fitness tactics and style compared to last year’s showing . Early doors but positive signs.
6 points down with 90 seconds left win a free 30 yards out and tap it over…do managers or “coaches” ever coach a plan or something to work a goal.