Chelsea Women: 3 takeaways from a historic UWCL triumph over Lyon

In one of the most significant contests in the history of CFCW, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea Women showed sheer grit in extra time to outlast the eight-time Champions League winners on penalties.

A truly monumental event. Not even a Hollywood screenwriter could have manufactured a better story than what transpired at Stamford Bridge under the lights on Thursday night. With Chelsea heading back for the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against the mighty Lyon with just a one-goal lead, you just knew this match was going to be a classic.

After one of the most disappointing results in the history of the club in December of 2021, the west London outfit came out to prove what this team was all about in 2023. Down by a goal on aggregate with just ten minutes left in the tie, Chelsea Women needed to dig deep if there was any way to salvage their European season on their home soil.

Sara Dabritz’s right-footed strike in the second half of extra time looked to have completed a remarkable comeback on the road for the current French league leaders. On the Blues’ last chance to force spot kicks, the eventual hero Ann-Katrin Berger blasted a free kick into the Lyon box. The ball ended up at the feet of the exact player Emma Hayes would have wanted. Lauren James, who caused the opposition’s backline fits all night used her elusiveness to force a vital penalty kick as time expired.

While VAR had not been on Chelsea Women’s side during many games this season, it finally came back around. Using her experience having netted big goals in the Champions League in the past, Maren Mjelde stepped to the spot as cool as the other side of the pillow. She made no doubt of her spot kick, sending the Bridge into a frenzy.

Hayes’ side still had a lot of work to do, but there was no way a team would be able to recover mentally in time to successfully defeat the opposition in a shootout. Berger did the rest during the PKs to decide the match as the Blues were able finish on the right side of what will go down as one of the most memorable matches in the history of this competition.

For just the second time in the last eight seasons, the French juggernaut will not be advancing to the Champions League semifinals. Chelsea Women were able to weather the storm in the first half from Sonia Bompastor’s side, who very well could have equalized the tie much earlier than they did. The backline held on for as long as it could without Mille Bright, but despite Lyon breaking it down on two occasions, the defense did the critical job of frustrating the away side. It was a match filled with chances on both sides that ultimately came down to who was more clinical from 12 yards out.

This result was years of progress in the making. Lyon have been the constant leader, and the role model for all other European clubs to follow over the past eight seasons. Hayes’ side nearly found a way past the French side in 2019, but it was not meant to be.

Chelsea Women have done it, and while the atmosphere and emotion may have mimicked a final, this was merely the second hurdle on their way to potentially lifting their first Champions League title. Here are three takeaways from a sublime match of football that ended the only way Champions League nights at the Bridge this season know-how.

3 takeaways from one of the greatest football matches in the history of Chelsea Women: