Tranmerekat on Tour: Too Dutch Pressure

Chelsea Women host Ajax Women in the UWCL Quarter Final Second Leg at Stamford Bridge

It's a big night tonight as the knockout stages of the Champions League begin as the Blues host De Amsterdames in SW6. Well the home leg does. Chelsea are 3-0 up from the away leg and the ruthless performance in Amsterdam gives the Blues the advantage tonight. It looks like Emma is resting a few players tonight, perhaps thinking of the Conti-Cup Final coming up on Sunday. Millie is still not back so the back 2 are Jess and Kadisha with Eve Perisset on the right and Ashley Lawrence on the left. She is usually on the right so interesting to see how she gets on up the left linking up with Guru. ABJ is in front of Eve. Unusually, Sophie and Erin are in the middle together, with Fran then Mayra up front. It's a bit makeshift but they with get on with the job like they do. There is just one we recognise in the Ajax line up with Netherlands midfielder Sherida Spitse in the team.

The Chels are attacking the Shed end and straight into attack mode but Ajax get the first chance as Spitse heads just over after a corner 2 minutes in. Erin hits just wide a few minutes later. Zecira nearly (very nearly) puts it her own net as she tries to hit a backpass upfield but hits it straight at the white shirt closing her down. 🤦‍♂️ It ricochets and goes pass her toward the goal and lucky for her hits the post. So close to an own goal howler. Phew. And Ajax come close again as their shot on 16 goes just wide. Chelsea are using the flanks to get forward but forcing Ajax to attack down the middle where Erin and Sophie are blocking them off. Guru gets a great chance from the left but somehow she hits it wide. The breakthrough comes on 33 when Mayra runs onto a pass from Guru and threads it between the keepers legs. 1-0 the Blues and 4-0 on aggregate ⚽. There half chances both ways but the half ends with advantage Blues.

The Dutch Champions level it on 66 as they break clear and nutmegs Zecira. 4-1 on aggregate. Still looks all over. Need to tighten up a bit though. Chelseas changes don't really help as Nusken comes on for Buchanan, Catarina Macario for Mayra, ABJ for JRK. Zecira makes a couple of really good saves late on to save our nerves. Marcario has a good chance but doesn't make it count. We kept waiting for 5 minutes of injury time for the whistle but it comes and we are in the semi-finals.

It's job done for the Blues as they are through. Emma clearly rested a few as it's the Conti-Cup final on Sunday. Nusken scored 2 in the first leg playing up frint and then came on a Centre-half tonight. Ajax made it a good scrap on the night and got their reward but it was all over really in the first leg. It's Barcelona up next with the away leg first in a repeat of last year's semi-final that we couldn't get to. Hopefully we can get to the bridge to watch this year and Chelsea go a stage further to make the final. The other semi-final is PSG and Lyon so an all French tie. The CHELS are halfway to Bilboa. Next step of the journey is uphill but hopefully they have the strength this time. Word is that Millie will be back after the international break. Before then the Blues have a cup final and we hopefully have some 9th division football to watch. It was a good humoured night in the shed with plenty of singing. Even a song for Sjoeken Nucken! Whoop whoop.

POTM: Erin was just everywhere, either to win the ball back or to receive a pass from someone under pressure.

Ref didn't seem to want to give anything to the hosts, not even corners. Hope the level of officiating steps up in the knockout stage.

Basil watch: He was near the main entrance with a new jesters hat .

See you soon.

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