Chelsea blew Manchester City away at Stamford Bridge to turn around a two-goal deficit and book their place in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
Having lost the first leg 2-0 in Manchester, Sonia Bompastor’s side knew they needed to score at least twice – and the hosts were relentless from the off.
Pressing with intensity, running at City’s backline and winning the ball high up, Chelsea’s efforts paid off when Sandy Baltimore thumped in a 14th-minute opener.
With City struggling to respond, Nathalie Bjorn headed in the hosts’ second and Mayra Ramirez capped a blistering half with Chelsea’s third just before the break to give them an aggregate lead.
Bompastor’s side were completely on top and should have extended their advantage with Bjorn hitting the woodwork and Ramirez squandering further chances.
They maintained their pressure in the second half as Erin Cuthbert struck the crossbar.
City, who appeared shell-shocked by the onslaught, managed to test Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton on a few occasions but could not muster a goal.
It is a painful end to City’s European campaign and brings to a close a fascinating two-week battle between the sides in which they faced each other four times in a row.
City’s sole victory in those matches ultimately proved to be insignificant given Chelsea, as they so often do, found a way to win the games that mattered.
They beat City to seal the Women’s League Cup in the first of those showdowns, extended their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League with victory on Sunday and have kept their European hopes alive as they chase a historic quadruple.
