Goals from Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby give Chelsea first-leg victory over Atletico Madrid in Women's Champions League last-16 tie; Manchester City secure 3-0 victory against Fiorentina
Thursday 4 March 2021 08:55, UK
Chelsea overcame Sophie Ingle's early dismissal to seal an impressive 2-0 first-leg win over Atletico Madrid in the Women's Champions League last 16.
The Blues had goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to thank for their commanding position heading into next week's second leg as she saved two Atletico penalties.
Ingle was sent off just 12 minutes in, leaving Emma Hayes' side with an uphill battle in the last-16 clash, but they were handed an immediate boost as Deyna Castellanos missed the resulting spot-kick.
Despite Atletico's numerical advantage they could not push on to take the lead, with Chelsea finding the breakthrough when Maren Mjelde scored from the penalty spot just before the hour mark, and Fran Kirby added a second less than five minutes later.
Atletico Madrid have knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League for the past two seasons, but Chelsea boss Hayes had said before the game that it was the tie her club wanted.
Chelsea had a chance to take an early lead inside five minutes but Ji So-Yun put the ball wide of the far post after being played through.
Atletico had an ideal opportunity to go ahead when Ingle fouled Rasheedat Ajibade, resulting in her red card, but Berger was able to deny Castellanos from the subsequent spot-kick.
The home side came close to finding the breakthrough at the start of the second half when Sam Kerr fired into the side netting after being played through on goal.
Mjelde converted from the spot after Kerr was brought down by Aissatou Tounkara inside the area to hand the Blues the advantage.
Kirby then doubled the Blues' lead, turning home a Kerr pass in the 64th minute.
However, 10 minutes from time, Atletico had the chance to score an important away goal when Berger brought down Ludmila da Silva, but the goalkeeper was able to make up for her error and deny Merel van Dongen from the penalty spot.
Manchester City took a decisive lead in their Women's Champions League last-16 tie against Fiorentina with a dominant 3-0 victory.
Manager Gareth Taylor said in the build-up to the game that he thought City were good enough to win the competition and they raced into an early lead against their Italian opponents, with Lauren Hemp and Ellen White scoring inside the opening four minutes.
Fiorentina, who were last season's Serie A runners-up, lost 6-0 on aggregate to Arsenal in the competition last year and looked on course for a similarly heavy defeat in Manchester, but they were able to limit City's advantage after their initial dominance.
The Viola are the last remaining Italian side in the tournament following Juventus' exit to last year's champions Lyon, but any hopes of progressing were further dented when Sam Mewis came off the bench to head home a third.
City took the lead after two minutes when Chloe Kelly drove down the right and crossed for Hemp, who made no mistake to open the scoring.
Taylor's side did not have to wait long for a second, with Hemp turning provider down the left for White to tap home two minutes later.
Scotland international Caroline Weir came close to adding a third, forcing Fiorentina goalkeeper Katia Schroffenegger to come off her line and punch.
Fiorentina had a chance to snatch a crucial away goal at the start of the second half when substitute Lana Clelland played in Frederikke Thogersen but the Danish forward rushed her shot and curled the ball away from goal.
City added a third in the 89th minute when Kelly provided another assist, this time for Mewis, who headed past the keeper at the far post.
