Early strikes from Lucy Bronze and Wieke Kaptein secured Chelsea’s dominance, sealing their knockout spot and Celtic’s exit from the competition.
Chelsea Women secured their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with a dominant 3-0 victory over Celtic Women at Kingsmeadow. The win, their fourth consecutive in Group A, ensures the Blues’ progression with two games to spare, while Celtic’s hopes ended with a fourth straight defeat.
The match began with a thunderous start as Lucy Bronze volleyed Chelsea ahead just 65 seconds after kick-off. The former Ballon d’Or winner capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire an unstoppable shot past Celtic’s goalkeeper, setting the tone for the evening.
Chelsea doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Guro Reiten floated a perfectly weighted cross into the box, finding 19-year-old Wieke Kaptein. The Dutch midfielder nodded home her first European goal, a moment of brilliance in her burgeoning career.
Despite Chelsea’s early dominance, Celtic regrouped, defending resolutely for the remainder of the first half. The Scottish side showed glimpses of counter-attacking promise but lacked the cutting edge to threaten Chelsea’s sturdy backline.
In the second half, Chelsea controlled possession, dictating the pace and creating numerous opportunities. Substitute Sam Kerr added the third and final goal in the 70th minute, slotting home a rebound after Erin Cuthbert’s strike was parried by the Celtic keeper.
Manager Sonia Bompastor, who has overseen a flawless start to Chelsea’s European campaign, praised her squad’s intensity and execution. “This performance reflects our ambition in this competition. Securing qualification early is a testament to the team’s focus and quality,” she said post-match.
For Celtic, the defeat marked the end of their European journey, but manager Fran Alonso commended his team’s resilience. “We faced one of the best sides in Europe, and while the result is disappointing, the experience will help us grow,” he remarked.
Chelsea now turn their attention to their final two group games, with a chance to maintain their unbeaten record and secure top spot. Their focus also shifts to domestic fixtures, as the team balances the demands of competing on multiple fronts
