Chelsea take control of Champions League clash with win in Montpellier

Posted Thursday, March 22, 2018 by PA

Ji So-yun and substitute Erin Cuthbert were on target as Chelsea claimed a 2-0 first-leg win at Montpellier to take a commanding Women’s Champions League quarter-final advantage.

Ji struck four minutes into the second half at La Mosson to give Chelsea a vital away goal ahead of next week’s second leg in London and Cuthbert added a second moments after coming off the bench.

The Blues had to dig deep as Montpellier twice hit the woodwork and former Chelsea striker Sofia Jakobsson proved a dangerous opponent.

Chelsea, in their first quarter-final in this competition, will now hope to advance to the last four.

Blues goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl saved Virginia Torecilla’s header from a corner as Montpellier began on the attack.

Romona Bachmann shot from a tight angle for Chelsea, only to be denied by Casey Murphy, who next saved from Drew Spence.

Chelsea got the away goal they were searching for when Fran Kirby slipped the ball through for Ji. The South Korean composed herself before slotting the ball across Murphy and into the bottom corner.

Jakobsson twice went close for Montpellier, firing narrowly wide and then was denied by Lindahl.

Bachmann next went through for Chelsea, rounded Murphy, but then struck the woodwork. Hannah Blundell attempted to convert the rebound, only to be thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Montpellier hit the woodwork when Katrine Veje struck a low drive from the edge of the area which bounced off the foot of the post.

Cuthbert shot just wide moments after coming on before scoring Chelsea’s second.

Magda Eriksson’s corner was just out of Millie Bright’s reach, but Cuthbert was lurking and headed across goal and into the far corner.