Vivianne Miedema delivered a match-winning performance off the bench as Manchester City inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat of the season, taking a crucial step towards the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
The Dutch striker’s second-half brace not only snapped Chelsea’s 31-game unbeaten streak—which had stretched back to May 2024—but also handed manager Sonia Bompastor her first defeat since joining the Blues from Lyon.
It was an immediate statement from Nick Cushing, City’s interim boss, who returned to the dugout just eight days ago following the departure of Gareth Taylor.
His tactical adjustments, particularly the introduction of Miedema at half-time, proved decisive.
Miedema the Game-Changer
After a tense first half where both sides cancelled each other out, City turned up the intensity after the break.
With key forwards Khadija Shaw and Aoba Fujino sidelined through injury, Cushing turned to 19-year-old Lily Murphy and January signing Kerolin for attacking spark.
It was Kerolin’s driving runs that unsettled Chelsea, and she played a key role in the breakthrough.
In the 60th minute, her cross found Laia Aleixandri, whose header was pushed onto the bar by Hannah Hampton. But Miedema was lurking and ruthlessly smashed home the rebound.
The Dutch all-time top scorer then doubled City’s lead in the 88th minute, rifling the ball into the roof of the net to take her Women’s Champions League goal tally to 31 in 35 games.
Chelsea Left Searching for Answers
For Chelsea, it was an uncharacteristically flat performance. Mayra Ramirez was locked in a physical battle with Aleixandri but struggled to make an impact.
The Blues’ best chances came late, with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd rattling the crossbar and Wieke Kaptein forcing a save from Ayaka Yamashita.
Bompastor’s side, currently leading the Women’s Super League, are still in the hunt for four trophies this season, but this defeat underlines the challenge ahead.
City Strike First – But the Battle Isn’t Over
This result gives City instant revenge for their 2-1 League Cup final loss to Chelsea on Saturday and sets up an explosive second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 27 (20:00 GMT).
Before then, the rivals will meet again in the WSL on Sunday, making this a relentless 12-day trilogy between two of England’s best.
Chelsea will need a strong response at home to keep their Champions League dream alive, but with Barcelona or Wolfsburg awaiting in the semi-finals, the road to European glory is only getting tougher.
UWCL Quarterfinals First-leg Result
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
Bayern Munich 0-2 Lyon
Wolfsburg 1-4 Barcelona
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
