Chelsea and Ajax drew 1-1 in the second leg, allowing the WSL champions to advance to the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.

Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Ajax ended in a 1-1 draw, but it was the Blues who emerged victorious, having already secured a comfortable lead in the first leg.

Mayra Ramirez’s goal in the 34th minute gave Chelsea an insurmountable advantage at Stamford Bridge. However, Chasity Grant’s goal in the 65th minute provided a glimmer of hope for the Dutch side.

Despite the draw, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea side were able to progress into the semi-finals with relative ease. They seemed to be cruising in second gear, perhaps displaying a hint of complacency, as they faced a good challenge from Suzanne Bakker’s team.

The match saw opportunities for both teams, with Romee Leuchter coming closest for Ajax. There was a moment of anxiety for Chelsea when Zecira Musovic’s clearance hit Tiny Hoekstra and narrowly missed the post in an evenly contested first half.

However, Chelsea’s experience ultimately prevailed. Ramirez created space for herself and calmly slotted the ball past Regina van Eijk after receiving a pass from Guro Reiten. Ajax responded with a second-half goal from Grant, who neatly placed the ball beneath Musovic following Rosa van Gool’s through pass.

This set up an intriguing final 25 minutes in west London, with the Dutch side gaining momentum in their quest for an unlikely comeback.