Arsenal take first-leg advantage over Chelsea in Women's Champions League quarters

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lauren/nR4k89xo/"]Lauren James[/a] pulled a goal back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/Q7Hu2UDD/"]Chelsea[/a] to keep the Blues in the tie but reigning European champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/8CKOoQdn/"]Arsenal[/a] will still be well-placed come kick-off in next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.[/p][p]The Women's Champions League was the one major title that eluded Chelsea during [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arokodare-toluwalase/4IsrUYg1/"]Emma Hayes[/a]' trophy-laden 12-year reign and the Blues are still seeking to be crowned queens of Europe for the first time since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bompastor-sonia/lWBaZks1/"]Sonia Bompastor[/a] replaced the now-United States boss in 2024[/p][p]Chelsea were twice denied by the woodwork early in Tuesday's tie.[/p][p]After just five minutes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thompson-alyssa/QPnYNXdi/"]Alyssa Thompson[/a]'s cross looped off the boot of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/codina-laia/zcWn3uTO/"]Laia Codina[/a] and spun over goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/borbe-anneke/4Mqqjxs6/"]Anneke Borbe[/a] before rebounding off the far post.[/p][p]Two minutes later, James saw a shot hit the same post before the ball fell clear.[/p][p]Arsenal, however, went ahead in the 22nd minute when Sweden striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blackstenius-stina/tvFnIayL/"]Blackstenius[/a] headed home her first Champions League goal of the season from a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccabe-katie/MJ7Ld038/"]Katie McCabe[/a] free-kick.[/p][embed guid="3c61b6b4-43ff-4b16-a6cf-673d611f7458" url="https://x.com/UWCL/status/2036563974032953542?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Gunners doubled their lead 10 minutes later when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mead-bethany/ImKjIZz9/"]Beth Mead[/a] played a crossfield pass to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kelly-chloe/CjgWGoHq/"]Kelly[/a], who took a touch before lashing a 20-yard drive underneath another England international in Blues goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hampton-hannah/hI89NEeP/"]Hannah Hampton[/a].[/p][p]Chelsea had the ball in the net five minutes before half-time but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buurman-veerle/hGW8jAlj/"]Veerle Buurman[/a]'s effort was disallowed for a shove on Laia Codina - a borderline decision upheld by VAR to the obvious annoyance of Bompastor.[/p][p]Chelsea gave themselves a lifeline when James left fly in the 66th minute with a brilliant left-footed curling lob from some 25 yards out.[/p][p]But Russo restored Arsenal's two-goal advantage 14 minutes from time when, after being played in by Blackstenius, she flicked the ball up and volleyed past Hampton in fine style.[/p][p]Chelsea suffered fresh frustration in stoppage time when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buchanan-kadeisha/djXDaV1h/"]Kadeisha Buchanan[/a] bundled the ball into the net only to be penalised for a foul on Borbe.[/p][p]The sides meet again on Thursday April 2 with the winner set to meet [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolfsburg/Yaedf2i2/"]Wolfsburg[/a] or eight-times champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lyon/ro3DSjf2/"]Lyon[/a] with the German side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-champions-league-women-lineth-beerensteyn-hands-wolfsburg-key-win-over-ol-lyonnes-in-uwcl-quarterfinals/0Cly8usJ/"]leading 1-0 after the first leg[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-8CKOoQdn/chelsea-Q7Hu2UDD/?mid=jLMsXBsH"]Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="b0907798-1dce-44e1-b71f-d24510aacd5d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="3f816c9f-a504-4e69-aa36-041f2265bf71" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]