(Football news) After defeating Leicester City 2-0 in the Women’s Super League last weekend, Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes made eight changes ahead of the Blues visit to the Juventus Stadium with only Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson and Fran Kirby retaining their positions in the starting XI.
Chelsea started off strongly but failed to test Juventus’ goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. It was the Italian side that had the first real opportunity of the match when a floating ball found the head of Bonansea but went over the post, much to the relief of Chelsea’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
The Blues went ahead just after the half hour mark when Cuthbert dribbled past Boattin and Martina Rosucci and slotted the ball past Peyraud-Magnin. Juventus reacted immediately through Lina Hurtig but were denied by some diligent marking from Jess Carter. However, the hosts equalized soon enough when a floating ball by Boattin found Bonansea who scored past Berger.
Juventus had a penalty shout denied in the second half when Cristiana Girelli went down in the penalty box after a slight contact from Magdalena Eriksson. The world’s most expensive female player Pernille Harder sent two shots wide before getting Chelsea’s second goal in the 69th minute with good combination play from the front 3 of Kirby, Kerr and Harder who slotted home the rebound.
Chelsea should have scored another goal through Kerr but a majestic save from Peyraud-Magnin denied the 28 year old her name on the scoresheet. Juventus made a monumental effort to level the scoring in the final 15 minutes but could not find a way past Chelsea’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. With this result, the Blues are level on points with Wolfsburg in Group A of the Women’s Champions League but are placed 2nd due to goal difference.
