Vivianne Miedema scored a brace as Manchester City handed Chelsea their first defeat of the season in a 2-0 win. Manchester City and Chelsea met on Wednesday night for the second of four meetings in 12 days after the latter took victory in the Subway Women’s League Cup final on Saturday. This time it was the UEFA Women’s Champions League which would provide the stage for two giants of the footballing world to do battle. The match was the first leg of their quarter final tie and was hosted by Manchester City at the Joie Stadium.
When the two side’s met on the weekend an interesting tactical battle unfolded and new Manchester City interim head coach Nick Cushing shuffled the pack for the sides second meeting and first of two meetings in Manchester. Cushing made two enforced changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Chelsea both Khadija Shaw and Aoba Fujino dropped out after picking up or exacerbating injuries in Derby last weekend. In the influential pair’s place came Lily Murphy and Kerolin. Viviane Miedema was also dropped to the bench with Jess Park coming in.
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor also made two changes with fit again Keira Walsh coming in for Sjoeke Nüsken while Aggie Beever-Jones got the chance from the start in place of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
The Line ups:
MCI: Yamashita; Casparij, Aleixandri, Prior, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Park, Roord, Kerolin, Murphy, Fowler
CHE: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore, Cuthbert, Walsh, Macario, Beever-Jones, James, Ramirez
The Action:
Manchester City had the first half-chance of the match after Caterina Macario lost possession inside the Chelsea half, Mary Fowler found Kerolin whose snap shot went just over the bar. Shortly after Jill Roord picked Erin Cuthbert’s pocket before finding Fowler who returned the ball to the on rushing Roord in behind. Roord tested Hannah Hampton who made a smart stop even if the offside flag was raised moments later.
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Manchester City were causing Chelsea problems with their high press and early on Millie Bright and Sandy Baltimore had both been forced into fouls after losing the ball in a compromising positions. Chelsea had their first riposte when Beever-Jones won the ball on halfway and drove at the City defence earning a corner with the help of Macario. Chelsea were beginning to feel their way into the match and crucially they were getting Walsh on the ball in midfield.
Lily Murphy was the next City player to test Hampton after great defensive work from Laia Alexandri, to create the chance for Murphy who ran toward the box, cut inside and forced Hampton into a save down to her right. Chelsea’s number 10 Lauren James created the away side’s best opportunity of the opening 30 minutes as James’ casual cross found the diving American Macario who was unable to keep her header below the bar.
Ramirez was beginning to cause real problems on the left side of the City defence and 35 minutes in she shrugged off Alexandri to sprint in on the right wing but her cut back evaded those in Chelsea shirts. That concluded the action in what was a cagey first half with neither side wanting to over stretch themselves so early in the tie.
Both sides made changes at half time with Oranje Vrouwen introduced on both sides, Miedema came off the bench for Murphy while Wieke Kaptein came on for the visitors in place of Macario. It seemed clear that Kaptein was introduced to halt the influence of Yui Hasegawa at the heart of the City midfield.
After the interval it felt as though Manchester City realised the importance of taking a lead to Stamford Bridge. Kerolin was running at the City defence with freedom. And City would get their just rewards and took the lead after some brilliant work on the edge of the box from Mary Fowler. The Australian faked a cross to buy some space on the edge of the box before sending the ball onto the head of Alexandri, the Spaniard’s header was spectacularly saved onto the crossbar by Hampton but the ball bounced to Miedema who wonderfully directed the ball into the back of the net in off the crossbar.
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Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net in response but Ramirez had made the run just too late after Aggie Beever-Jones had played her through. Kaptein had some wonderful work on the edge of the box to play through Kaneryd on goal, the Swede took aim and blasted her effort off the crossbar with Hamano only able to direct the follow up weakly into the arms of Ayaka Yamashita.
Chelsea continued to push for a leveller and Baltimore’s inviting cross with eight minutes to play could not find a Chelsea player in the box. Shortly after Kaptein found her way into the box but her shot on goal was stopped by Yamashita. But City were threatening on the counter and Kerolin sent Miedema clean through on goal, only for Hampton to stop the flying Dutchwoman with an out stretched foot only for the offside flag once again to raise.
However it was only a stay of execution as after positive play from Kerolin once again concluded with a lovely ball to Miedema, the Dutch striker allowed the ball to run across her before firing past a helpless Hampton, 2-0 to Manchester City. Miedema threatened to secure a hat-trick but Bright ensured the arrears remained at two with an impressive sliding challenge. Manchester City still have much to do in the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week but they have given themselves every chance of a date with Barcelona or Wolfsburg in the semi final.
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Manchester City Player Ratings
Ayaka Yamashita – 7/10 – Her handling is so impressive, plucked a number of corners out of the sky. Made a number of good saves in the second half.
Kerstin Casparij – 6/10 – Her delivery into the box left something to be desired but she stuck to her task in defence.
Laia Alexandri – 7/10 – Bullied at times by Ramirez she struggled to adapt to the threat the Colombian posed. Did better in the second half and stood up as her side needed a leader.
Gracie Prior– 6/10 – Misplaced some early passes with understandable nerves. Grew into the match and had some confident touches later in the half.
Laia Ouahabi – 5/10 – Ramirez ran past Ouahabi a couple of times in the first half as if she was not there. Misplaced a couple of passes that would have frustrated Cushing.
Yui Hasegawa – 8/10 – Kept her side ticking when on the ball and was at her usual influential best.
Jess Park – 5/10 – Anonymous for large periods of the match, was tasked with stopped Walsh get on the ball and influence play, struggled to do so.
Jill Roord – 7/10 – Roord looked in the mood from early on in this one. Pressed well early in the match picking Erin Cuthbert’s pocket and almost creating the first clear cut chance.
Lily Murphy – 6/10 – Cutting your Champions League teeth against one of the greats of the game in Lucy Bronze is never easy but Murphy gave it a go, was taken off at half time for Miedema.
Kerolin Nicoli – 8/10 – Her best performance in Manchester City sky blue, made some great running in the second half and grew in influence giving Baltimore and Bright some issues. Set up Miedema for her second goal and seemed to have a real connection with the Dutch forward.
Mary Fowler– 8/10 – Made some brilliant tackles early on and was key to the high press that Cushing was trying to implement. Perhaps could have done better when she did win the ball in dangerous areas.
Substitutes:
Vivianne Miedema– 9/10 – Came off the bench at half time for Lily Murphy. Scored the goal that gave City the lead on the night and doubled it soon after, that’s 31 goals in 35 matches in the champions league and she scored her first with her fifth touch of the night.
Laura Coombs– 6/10 – Helped to stabilise the Manchester City midfield and counteract the changes made by Bompastor.
Laura Blindkilde Brown– N/A –
Naomi Layzell – N/A –
Chelsea Player Ratings:
Hannah Hampton – 8/10 – Was not particularly tested in the early stages but dealt with everything thrown at her with ease. Made a sensational save in the second half but was unlucky with the bounce of the ball as Miedema stole in to score.
Lucy Bronze – 7/10 – A quieter evening from the England star, had the better of the battle with Murphy.
Natalie Bjorn – 7/10 – Another assured defensive display, not one of Chelsea’s marquee signings but one of their shrewdest.
Millie Bright – 6/10 – Pressed high up the pitch by City and continued to remain calm in possession. Misplaced many of her long balls, the ambition was positive the execution less so. Tackled Miedema late on to keep her side in the tie.
Sandy Baltimore – 7/10 – Had some classy touches early on her, defensive qualities continue to surprise and her attacking talent is a given.
Keira Walsh – 7/10 – Made a number of key interceptions to disrupt the Manchester City attack, was taken off early in the second half.
Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – Lost the ball early on as her team struggled with City’s high press. Cuthbert was not as influential as she had been on the weekend.
Catarina Macario – 6/10 – Found good positions in front of goal in the first half but was brought off at half time, which appeared to be a tactical change more so than one based on her performance.
Aggie Beever-Jones – 7/10 – When Chelsea were under pressure early on Beever-Jones won the ball back on the halfway line and flew forward, ultimately earning her team a corner. Her direct running was a challenge City struggled to solve.
Lauren James– 6/10 – Came back and defended when required like Beever-Jones on the other side. Seemingly effortless class on the ball, taken off early in the second half.
Mayra Ramirez – 7/10 – A powerhouse performance that gave Alexandri and Ouahabi all kinds of difficulties. Alexandri did get to grips with defending Ramirez by the time she came off.
Substitutes:
Wieke Kaptein – 7/10 – Misplaced a couple of early passes after coming on but became influential as she got her foot on the ball more and more. Crafted some wonderful opportunities and was on the end of a couple too.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – N/A –
Sjoeke Nüsken – N/A –
Maika Hamano – N/A –
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Vivianne Miedema
Miedema changed this match. The story of the first half was one of positive play from Manchester City but inability to find that cutting edge. Miedema was that cutting edge for them in the second. She looked dangerous every time the ball was at her feet scored a magnificent second goal that was text book centre forward brilliance. She elevated the performance of those around her when she came on and ensured victory on the night for City.