WUCL: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea: Gunners in driver's seat as Chloe Kelly and Co take two-goal advantage against Chelsea Women in Women's Champions League quarter-final

Chelsea FC Women have expressed pride in their performance despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal Women in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Arsenal took the lead in the 22nd minute through a header from Stina Blackstenius, following a curled free-kick by Katie McCabe. Chloe Kelly doubled the advantage for the hosts ten minutes later with a powerful long-range strike. Chelsea responded strongly in the second half, with Lauren James producing a moment of magic in the 66th minute – a superb solo effort where she curled the ball into the top corner from outside the penalty area.

Alessia Russo restored Arsenal's two-goal cushion in the 76th minute, but the Blues continued to push forward and create threats until the final whistle.

Head Coach Sonia Bompastor praised her team's display, highlighting their early dominance and resilience: "I'm frustrated for sure about the result... I'm really proud of my players. I think it was a good performance from the team. We created enough to be in a better place in terms of results. We hit the post twice in the first 10 minutes."

Bompastor added that Chelsea struck the woodwork early on, had two goals disallowed (one by Veerle Buurman for a push and another by Kadeisha Buchanan for a foul on the goalkeeper), and showed real quality throughout. "We are losing by two goals now, but we'll take it game by game," she said. "This season, nothing has been easy for us in many aspects, but we still have belief and confidence... We need to go into every game with belief and confidence. I think we still have quality in the squad to achieve great things."

The match saw Chelsea create numerous high-quality chances, with standout contributions from Lauren James (who also hit the post twice early and tested the goalkeeper late on), Alyssa Thompson, and a solid defensive effort from players including Hannah Hampton, who made important saves.

Chelsea now trail 3-1 heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week. The Blues remain optimistic, drawing inspiration from last season's memorable comeback against Manchester City in the same competition.

**About Chelsea FC Women**  

Chelsea FC Women are one of the most successful teams in English and European women's football, with multiple domestic titles and a strong presence in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The team continues to compete at the highest level under the guidance of Head Coach Sonia Bompastor.