Chelsea go top of Champions League group with victory over BK Häcken | OneFootball

Chelsea have moved to the top of their UEFA Women’s Champions League group after defeating BK Häcken 3-1 at the Bravida Arena this evening.

The Swedes have proved to be a stubborn opponent in Group D but Chelsea were eventually able to inflict a first group stage defeat on Mak Lind’s side this evening,

BK Häcken almost claimed the lead in just the fourth minute of the match but Anna Anvegård’s effort came back off the underside of the crossbar.

At the other end, home keeper Jennifer Falk was required to tip a Lauren James effort over the bar before Sam Kerr opened the scoring for Chelsea when she tapped in from a Johanna Rytting Kaneryd pass.

Chelsea’s lead lasted for just 12 minutes. Monica Jusu Bah crossed the ball for Clarissa Larisey and she headed home from a little over six yards.

The Blues responded and they had two chances to regain the lead in the closing minutes of the half. First, Sophie Ingle’s shot was palmed to safety by Falk before Rytting Kaneryd directed a volley straight at the BK Häcken keeper.

The hosts always looked dangerous on the counter attack in the first half and another breakaway early in the second period almost produced a goal. Anvegård was again denied by the crossbar before Rosa Kafaji could only fire the rebound straight at Zećira Mušović.

BK Häcken were made to rue that miss as Chelsea went up the other end and scored. Ingle unselfishly played the ball to Erin Cuthbert and she drilled her shot into the far corner of the net. James then went close to scoring a third but Falk again came out on top.

The South West Londoners didn’t have to wait long to extend their advantage. Cuthbert took aim at goal from the right of the six-yard box and her shot had too much power for Falk as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

BK Häcken searched for an immediate response and Larisey fired an effort narrowly wide of goal before Falk denied Cuthbert a hat-trick at the other end. The hosts then thought that they had pulled a goal back through Molly Johansson but the flag incorrectly went up for offside.

The game ended 3-1 in Chelsea’s favour with The Blues leapfrogging BK Häcken into top spot in Group D with two rounds of matches left to play.