Chelsea overturn two-goal deficit to stun Man City in Women’s Champions League comeback and set up semi-final clash with Barcelona

Chelsea have set up a tantalising clash with Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-final, coming from two goals behind to secure a fabulous turnaround at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues came into Thursday night’s finale of their four consecutive fixtures a game in front, having picked up their wins in the League Cup final as well as the league, sandwiched by a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of this quarter-final.

At the time Sonia Bompastor insisted she ‘didn’t care’ about the end of her own 28-game unbeaten streak. And with Chelsea losing the only game that ultimately didn’t mean anything in the end, it now seems that assessment was spot on.

‘I said after the first leg we were alive and I knew it was possible, even if I knew the challenge would be tough,’ she said after Thursday night’s win.

‘But I think it’s important for us to bounce back and to have the opportunity to lose games and see how we can react as a team. For me, I think we put a lot of energy as staff and myself as a manager from the first leg to make sure the plan was the right one.

‘You never know until you play the game and you get a good result.’

Sandy Baltimore opened the scoring with the Blues needing a fast start at Stamford Bridge

Nathalie Bjorn’s looping header drew Chelsea level not long after with Man City rocking

This game looked as if it were going to start on a relatively even keel, albeit with the knowledge that Bompastor was going to throw the kitchen sink at a place in the semi-final of Europe’s elite competition.

After all, this was one of the major reasons why the three-time Champions League winner (two as a player and one as a manager) had been brought in to the club, for her wealth of experience.

And ultimately after tonight, this decision looks to have been vindicated. At least until they come up against an imperious looking Barcelona side next, who themselves put 10 past Wolfsburg on aggregate, conceding twice.

City were down to their bare bones in terms of their squad availability, with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Aoba Fujino continuing to be ruled out alongside the longer-term absentees of Lionesses duo Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood.

They took with them just five substitutes – and only the one attacking option in Jess Park – on the night, half the number of their opponents.

City boss Nick Cushing rued his lack of squad depth after the game, saying: ‘When you come into a Champions League quarter-final, you want to put your best players on the pitch.

‘To have Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp and arguably a goalkeeper that’s competing for the number one shirt and then not have our number nine who has contributed to the most goals that we’ve had. It’s tough, right? But I’m not making an excuse here.

‘I knew the task and the challenge that I had when I took over. And the one thing that I always want from my teams is to show the real fight, determination and belief. And you can see that there. The team pushed that game till right till the end.’

Mayra Ramirez completed the turnaround shortly before the break to finally put Chelsea ahead

Lionesses star Lauren James was named the Player of the Match after another brilliant display

Despite their 2-0 lead, City looked more nervous on the night and it took just under 15 minutes for Chelsea to find the opener.

To Cushing’s disappointment, it came as a result of City throw-in. Lucy Bronze took control, powering her way in the box and thumping it off the outside of her foot at her Lioness teammate Khiara Keating’s goal.

The ball rebounded with some ferocity off the post and Sandy Baltimore, unmarked and with plenty of time to think about it, sent it flying into the far-right corner.

A Chelsea penalty shout followed, with the referee waving away Bompastor’s insistence that Erin Cuthbert had been fouled in the box.

But the French coach wasn’t given long to sweat on the sidelines.

Baltimore came again, this time from the corner flag, her set-piece teeing up Nathalie Bjorn, who leapt higher than the rest, levelling the tie in front of a euphoric Shed End.

From there, City began to crumble.

Cushing motioned to his team to calm down after a panicked hoof returned the ball to Chelsea’s grateful possession, but his demands appeared to fall on deaf ears, with Mayra Ramirez making it three before half-time after Chelsea capitalised once again on a poor set-piece.

Chelsea have now beaten Man City three times in their bizarre run of four consecutive matches

Vivienne Miedema was pushed into a central role at the break which brought chances but still City could not break through

Cushing pushed Miedema – who had struggled to establish herself in the first half – into a more central attacking position at the break.

The interim boss also brought Laura Coombs on to shore up the defence, and both moves seemed to balance things out.

City had their fair share of chances in the second half – most notably Miedema’s driving shot from outside of the box which flew a whisker wide of the post – but otherwise Chelsea looked largely comfortable conceding possession.

Millie Bright and Bjorn have proved a formidable centre-back partnership this season, and the two stood tall in front of Hannah Hampton once again.

Park came on for Jill Roord in the 65th minute and brought some energy to City’s tiring legs, but Bompastor’s side never relented.

Up next is Liga F giants Barcelona – who Chelsea have lost their last two semi-finals to in a row.

But when there’s a will, there’s a way. And having the squad depth that Chelsea possesses certainly does its bit in helping, too.