Chelsea’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League have suffered a blow with The Blues having played out a frustrating goalless draw with BK Häcken at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Emma Hayes’ side dominated throughout but they were unable to find the back of the net as the visitors defied the odds and claimed a big point.
Chelsea started the match brightly and Fran Kirby saw an early effort deflect behind before Sam Kerr fired wide from a corner. Niamh Charles then struck a shot into the side-netting before Guro Reiten was denied by visiting keeper Jennifer Falk when one-on-one.
The South West Londoners continued to push forward in search of the game’s opening goal but Kadeisha Buchanan could only send a header wide before Erin Cuthbert rattled the crossbar from a Charles cut-back.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half and Kirby looped a shot onto the roof of the net from 18 yards. Charles almost instantly suffered the same result with a cross from out wide.
The Blues then looked certain to break the deadlock when a pass was threaded through to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd but Falk came out big and she made the save. Moments later, Chelsea struck the crossbar for a second time through a Kerr header before Charles headed over from a free-kick.
With 17 minutes to go, Kerr looped a header into the net from a Lauren James cross but the flag quite rightly went up for offside. Chelsea pressed hard in the final minutes and Ève Périsset went close with a free-kick but the visitors held out for a share of the spoils.
This evening’s result leaves BK Häcken top of the group on seven points. Chelsea remain in second with five points while Paris FC are a further two points behind in third. Real Madrid have just a single point from their three group matches so far. Chelsea travel to Sweden to face BK Häcken in the reverse fixture on Matchday 4.
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