Chelsea Women seize CL advantage

Hannah Blundell celebrates her strike for Chelsea Women against PSG in the Champions League

Chelsea Women seized the initiative in their Champions League quarter-final with a 2-0 first-leg win over PSG Women at Kingsmeadow.

Right-back Hannah Blundell finally made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute and Scotland international Erin Cuthbert, who will be suspended for the second leg after a late booking, scored a crucial second two minutes from time.

Before Thursday’s game, police found weapons – including knives and knuckledusters – on a coach of PSG supporters, who were denied entry.

On the pitch, there was little between the sides in a cagey first half in which the physical approach of PSG, finalists in 2015 and 2017, succeeded in negating the hosts.

Chelsea Women goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger reacts as her side take the lead against PSG

Cuthbert was denied in the first half by an Irene Paredes sliding block after seizing on a defensive error, while the visitors’ Ashley Lawrence fired wide just before the break.

But it was the introduction of Fran Kirby – the competition’s second-highest scorer this season with five in four games – seven minutes into the second half that proved instrumental.

She almost broke the deadlock immediately when she was slipped in by Beth England but dragged a shot just wide.

Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger pushed away a Lawrence shot destined for the top corner before Blundell struck 17 minutes before the end.

After some good build-up play involving Kirby, Blundell looped a shot with her weaker left foot over PSG goalkeeper Christiane Endler.

The hosts, bidding to reach back-to-back semi-finals, were denied when Sophie Ingle hit a post at a corner and Maren Mjelde’s follow-up was blocked, but there was still time left for Cuthbert to convert Kirby’s pass.

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