Arsenal the Only English Team to Reach Women’s Champions League Semi-Finals

Wednesday night saw the second leg of the Women’s Champion’s League quarter finals take place, with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United competing in their respective games for a spot in the semi-finals. While Chelsea saw out a 1-0 victory on the night against local rivals Arsenal, they couldn’t overcome their first leg deficit and crashed out of the competition, as the North London club progressed, at the same time that Manchester United were thrashed by German Champions Bayern Munich.

Chelsea were eventually able to break the deadlock, but it proved too little too late

Chelsea hosted reigning European champions Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, drawing a crowd of 16,000 for the late Wednesday kick off. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, the Blues had to deliver a strong performance and score at least two without conceding to level the tie. The home side started strongly, Alyssa Thompson and Sjoeke Nüsken both missing good chances early on to get their names on the score sheet – yet Arsenal remained resolute in their defense, with center back Wubben-Moy a rock at the back for the Gunners. Both sides had a couple of half chances before the break, but this ultimately amounted to nothing. Arsenal keeper Daphne Van Domselaar stole the show in the second half, making a spectacular stop to deny Sam Kerr, before tipping a bullet header onto the post, as the hosts pushed for a goal late on. Chelsea were eventually able to break the deadlock, with Nüsken burying a near post finish in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but it proved too little too late for Chelsea as they were knocked out of the competition in a 3-2 aggregate defeat, a 1-0 victory on the night not enough to overturn the deficit. A sold out away section celebrated as the Gunners took another step closer to retaining their title.

The Red devils started out strongly and looked as though they could flip the tie on its head

Elsewhere, Champions League debutants Manchester United saw themselves trailing from the first leg of their quarter final against Bayern Munich 3-2 and faced a difficult task playing away at the Allianz Arena. The Red devils started out strongly and looked as though they could flip the tie on its head after Melvine Malard made it 1-0 in the 11^th minute, which tied the score on aggregate. Malard once again proved to be the away side’s bright spark in the first half, trying another powerful effort from just outside the box, but keeper Mahmutovic was equal to it. The score was 1-0 to the visitors at half time, but the home side came out much sharper after the break. A flurry of chances could’ve seen the German team score much earlier, but Tullis-Joyce stood tall in the United net. Bayern left it late to put themselves back into the lead, capitalising from a corner with captain Viggósdóttir heading home in the 80th minute to make it 1-1 on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate. Set pieces once again proved to be United’s downfall, with Dallman firing home from range just four minutes later after a corner was initially cleared, putting the result beyond doubt for Bayern Munich. The game finished 2-1 to Bayern, handing Manchester United a 5-3 loss on aggregate in their first ever Champion’s League quarter final.

With both Chelsea and Manchester United failing to get past the quarter finals, Arsenal remain the only English representative in the UWCL semi-finals. They will take on French Champions OL Lyonnes in a massive semi-final clash on the April 25 at the Emirates before the reverse fixture on May 2, which will determine whether they can make back-to-back European finals.