- Miedema’s Impact Off the Bench.
- Chelsea’s Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End.
- Manchester City Gains Momentum Under Nick Cushing.
In an exhilarating UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Joie Stadium, Manchester City clinched a 2-0 victory against Chelsea, largely thanks to Vivianne Miedema’s outstanding performance after coming off the bench.
This win not only snapped Chelsea’s unbeaten streak but also set City up nicely for the return leg.
Miedema’s Game-Changing Entrance
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Coming on at the start of the second half, Miedema made her presence felt right away.
At the 60-minute mark, she took advantage of a rebound after Hannah Hampton deflected Laia Aleixandri’s header onto the crossbar, putting City in the lead.
Chelsea almost leveled the score in the 80th minute when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s shot hit the bar.
However, Miedema put the game to bed in the 89th minute, finishing off a precise pass from Kerolin.
Chelsea’s Unbeaten Run Halted
This loss was a significant blow for Chelsea under manager Sonia Bompastor, marking the end of a remarkable 28-match unbeaten streak since she took charge last summer, which included 26 wins.
Just days before, Chelsea had celebrated a Women’s League Cup victory with a 2-1 win over City, making this turnaround even more noteworthy.
City’s Resurgence Under Cushing
For Manchester City, this win was a crucial moment under interim manager Nick Cushing, who recently stepped in for Gareth Taylor.
The team displayed resilience and tactical skill, setting a positive tone for their upcoming matches against Chelsea, including a Women’s Super League showdown at the Etihad Stadium and the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Squad Adjustments and Tactical Mastery
City had to make some adjustments to their lineup due to injuries to key forwards Khadija Shaw and Aoba Fujino.
In their absence, Kerolin and 19-year-old Lily Murphy were brought into the starting lineup, while Miedema started on the bench.
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Chelsea, meanwhile, welcomed back midfielder Keira Walsh after a brief injury layoff.
The deadlock was finally broken when Aleixandri’s header hit the bar thanks to a great save by Hampton, which allowed Miedema to pounce on the rebound.
She soon forced another impressive save from Hampton, but Chelsea thought they had leveled the score with a goal from Mayra Ramirez, only to have it called offside.
Chelsea kept pushing for an equalizer, with Rytting Kaneryd striking the crossbar and Weike Kaptein forcing a save from Yamashita.
In the end, though, City had the last word as Miedema completed her brace in the dying minutes, finishing coolly after a perfectly timed pass from Kerolin.
This result not only highlights Manchester City’s depth and tactical versatility but also sets the stage for an exciting second leg, where Chelsea will be looking to turn things around on their home ground.
