Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No10 2020/21

The two Barclays FA WSL clubs will take good leads into the return meetings of their
respective UEFA Women's Champions League Round of 16 ties after both won their first
legs on home soil on Wednesday.
Manchester City were first in action against Fiorentina and could not have
asked for a better start as they took a large, early advantage. With barely 90 seconds on
the clock, Chloe Kelly burst down the right and crossed for Lauren Hemp to head City in
front at the far post. Before Fiorentina could recover, they found themselves two goals
behind, Hemp this time turning provider as her low centre from the left was fired
emphatically home by Ellen White.
In a powerful first half display, City could well have added further goals before the
break but both Hemp and White were denied by good saves from Katja Schroffenegger.
Fiorentina introduced Scotland international Lana Clelland as a half time
substitute and came more into the game as attacking force after the break, going closest
when a counter attack released Frederikke Thogersen on goal but she shot wide with only
Ellie Roebuck to beat.
Although not as rampant as they were before the interval, City always threatened
to get a third and after a Steph Houghton free kick had sailed inches wide, they got what
they wanted when Sam Mewis headed in from a Kelly cross.
Chelsea were next up at home to Atletico Madrid, who have proved to be a
thorn in the side of English teams in the competition in recent seasons. Emma Hayes' side
will take a 2-0 lead into the second leg next week, but the scoreline barely reveals a very
eventful and incident packed match at Kingsmeadow.
With twelve minutes on the clock, Atletico were awarded a penalty after
Rasheedat Ajibade was brought down in the area by Sophie Ingle and the Welsh
international was shown a red card for her challenge. Denya Castellanos stepped up but
Ann-Katrin Berger dived to keep out her kick and deny Atletico a precious away goal.
Chelsea kept things tight to ensure the scoreline was goalless at the break but just
before the hour, they were awarded a penalty of their own after a foul on Sam Kerr. Maren
Mjelde kept her nerve to beat former team mate Hedvig Lindahl from the spot and the
Blues were in front. Six minutes later, Chelsea had doubled their lead, Fran Kirby finding
space to finish calmly.
The Blues needed to survive another scare with ten minutes remaining though,
as a third penalty was awarded and a second for Atletico. Berger had been the player to
give the penalty away for her challenge on Ludmila, but she made amends by producing
a second save from the spot, this time keeping out Merel Van Dongen's kick.
Both second legs are due to be played next week with Chelsea playing on
Wednesday and Manchester City in action on Thursday.
ROUND OF 16 FIRST LEG RESULTS:
FC Barcelona 4 Fortuna Hjorring 0
Manchester City 3 Fiorentina 0
FC Rosengard 2 SKN St Polten Frauen 2
VfL Wolfsburg 2 LSK Kivnner FK 0
Chelsea 2 Atletico Madrid 0
WFC BIIK-Kazygurt 1 Bayern Munich 6
Olympique Lyonnais 2 Brondby IF 0
Paris Saint-Germain v AC Sparta Prague (to be played on 9 March)
Issue no. 10 - 4 March 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk