Chelsea 3-0 Celtic: The Blues advance smoothly to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
**Chelsea Secure Quarter-Final Spot with Victory Over Celtic**
In a commanding display at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC have secured their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, maintaining a perfect record with a 2-0 victory over Celtic FC on Wednesday night.
The match saw Lucy Bronze, the seasoned defender and five-time Champions League winner, lead by example as she opened the scoring just two minutes into the game. Her stunning volley caught Celtic goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty off guard, resulting in an early goal that set the tone for the evening. Bronze, who is determined to help Chelsea clinch their first European title, celebrated with her teammates as the ball crossed the line.
The Blues continued to assert their dominance, doubling their lead in the 25th minute. Youngster Wieke Kaptein, just 19 years old, showcased her talent with a deft header that found the back of the net, leaving Daugherty with little chance at the near post. This goal further highlighted the depth of talent within Sonia Bompastor’s squad, who have now won all 11 matches since the French manager took the helm in the summer.
As the match drew to a close, Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Bronze’s cross inadvertently struck the arm of Celtic’s Shannon McGregor. Substitute Eve Perisset stepped up to take the spot-kick, ensuring the victory and solidifying Chelsea’s position at the top of the group.
While Chelsea celebrate their success, Celtic are still searching for their first points in this year’s competition, having lost all four of their opening matches in their debut Champions League campaign.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will face tough challenges against FC Twente and Real Madrid as they aim to finish the group stage as winners. After being narrowly defeated in last season’s final by Bronze’s former club Barcelona, the Blues are more determined than ever to make a significant impact in this year’s tournament.