Chelsea Win As Bayern, Madrid Share Points In Women’s Champions League

Goals from Ellie Carpenter and Kadeisha Buchanan were enough to secure a second win for Chelsea in this season’s Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, while Bayern Munich came from two goals down to draw with Real Madrid.

Chelsea, who reached the final in 2020-21, opened their campaign with a win and a draw despite scoring just once in their first two games.

They looked nailed on for another win in the first half at Plough Lane as they dominated the game without getting a goal.

Alyssa Thompson hit the crossbar while Aggie Beever-Jones, put away by a superb pass from Hannah Hampton, was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Shukurat Oladipo.

That changed in the 51st minute when Wieke Kaptein cut the ball back for substitute Carpenter, making her 50th Champions League appearance, who slid the ball under the goalkeeper Rachele Baldi.

Melvine Malard missed a golden chance to put the game to bed, but Buchanan sealed it a minute from time, heading Kaptein’s cross into the Roma net.

There was a moment’s silence before kick-off at the Sportpark Unterhaching in Munich as a mark of respect after at least 68 people were killed in a train crash near Madrid earlier on Wednesday.

Real Madrid, who were all wearing black armbands, took an early lead when Athenea found the net in the seventh minute.

They doubled their lead 15 minutes later when former Bayern forward Lineth Beerensteyn headed home from close range, her first goal for Madrid in the Champions League since her move in the summer.

Bayern hit back shortly after when Edna Imade met Klara Buhl’s corner from the left and powered her header into the net.

And they drew level in the 52nd minute when Momoko Tanikawa curled in from the edge of the box after Madrid keeper Merle Frohms parried out a shot from Linda Dallmann.

Swiss side Servette dispatched Belgium’s OH Leuven 5-1 with Paola Hernandez and Gloria Marinelli scoring two goals each.

Wednesday’s late matches see Arsenal host Benfica while eight-time winners Lyon are at home to Inter Milan.

AFP