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8 months ago
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There was little chance of Chelsea not progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Equally, there was little chance of Emma Hayes assuming the job was already done.
A 3-0 victory over Ajax last week had given the Blues a healthy lead at the halfway stage but nothing is ever guaranteed. Her side were not at their best in this second leg but it did not matter. A 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge was more than enough to set up what will likely be a mouthwatering tie with reigning champions Barcelona.
Their tie is not done yet. The Catalans have a 2-1 lead ahead of their second leg with Norwegian side SK Brann on Thursday, but it would be a big shock if they do not progress.
It is no secret how much Hayes and her players want to win this competition. It is the only piece of silverware Hayes is yet to pick up and with the 47-year-old departing for the United States at the end of the season, it would be a fairytale ending for her to bow out as a European champion.
She is a step closer to that becoming a reality, but there are more games to come before they return to this competition.
The Blues face a League Cup final with Arsenal on Sunday before taking on Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup after the international break.
Mayra Ramirez scored in the first half against Ajax as Chelsea sealed a spot in the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League
The amount of games Chelsea have to play compared to their rivals was clearly on Hayes’ mind when it came to her team selection. Lauren James, Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles were all rested while Mayra Ramirez and Kadeisha Buchanan were withdrawn just past the hour mark.
In truth, Chelsea looked like a team that had played a lot of games in a short space of time in the opening stages and they nearly gifted Ajax a route back into the tie early in the first half.
Erin Cuthbert’s back-pass was short, which forced goalkeeper Zecira Musovic out of her goal. Her clearance was charged down by Tiny Hoekstra and the ball nearly ended up in the Chelsea net, bouncing just off the post and wide.
The Blues may have looked shaky in defence but they were causing Ajax problems in their own box, with Guro Reiten sending a shot inches wide of the far post.
Aggie Beever-Jones nearly found the opener with a powerful run but lost her balance before getting a shot away.
But Chelsea’s pressure paid off when the breakthrough came in the 33rd minute. Reiten played Ramirez through on goal and the striker put the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Regina van Eijk and into the net.
Ramirez should have made it 2-0 before half-time but could only send Beever-Jones’ cross wide.
Chelsea were cruising but switched off just past the hour mark to allow Ajax to equalise on the night. Hoekstra played the ball through to Chasity Grant, who rolled a shot underneath Musovic.
Ajax could have won it when Romee Leuchter ghosted into the box and curled a shot to the far post, but Musovic produced an excellent save to tip the ball around the post.
The goalkeeper also had to be alert to produce another fine stop to push Soraya Verhoeve’s long range effort wide.
Catarina Macario then nearly found a winner in added time but Van Eijk spread herself well to block the forward’s attempt.
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