Chelsea and Barcelona advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday.
Pernille Harder scored against his former team to lead Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg, and 5-1 on aggregate. Barcelona beat Manchester City, losing the second leg 2-1 but advancing 4-2 on aggregate.
Chelsea will face Bayern Munich or Rosengard in the semi-finals. Bayern defeated the Swedish club 3-0 in the first leg and will play again in Malmo on Thursday.
Barcelona awaits five-time defending champion Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain. The Lyon-PSG second leg was moved to April 18 following a coronavirus outbreak in the Lyon squad.
That performance of the team deserved no less than 3 points.@frankirby AND @ samkerr1 making bits as usual?@ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/8Cv5TzmIBu
– Jess Carter (@_JessCarter) March 31, 2021
In Budapest, Harder converted a penalty in the 27th minute and Sam Kerr doubled the lead five minutes later. Both players had scored last week in the first leg. Fran Kirby added the third goal in the second half.
Chelsea and Wolfsburg played their quarter-finals in Budapest due to travel restrictions. Chelsea was the “away” team on Wednesday.
Harder, who joined Chelsea from Wolfsburg in September, sent a long ball for Kerr, who was brought down by defender Sara Doorsoun. From the penalty spot, the Denmark captain sent goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek the wrong way, rolling the ball into the corner.
Kerr scored in the 32nd minute, picking up a splintered pass with his back to goal. The Australian forward turned and fired a low right-leg shot just inside the post.
Kirby made a trade with Ji So-Yun and beat Kiedrzynek from close range in the 81st minute.
? [HIGHLIGHTS] @MenCityWomen – @FCBFemeni (2-1) #UWCL pic.twitter.com/gCUVk1REKI
– FC Barcelona Women (@FCBfemeni) March 31, 2021
In Manchester, Janine Beckie swept a fumble after a corner kick in the 20th minute to give City hope for a comeback.
But just before the hour, Barça forward Asisat Oshoala took advantage of a crucial away goal from very close. He had been close to scoring several times before, but defender Lucy Bronze and goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck stopped him.
American international Sam Mewis converted a penalty in the 68th minute for City.
The final is scheduled for May 16 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.