Sjoeke Nusken’s double helped Chelsea earn a comfortable win at Ajax and take control of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
Ajax, who are competing at this stage for the first time, hit the post in the early exchanges but from then on Chelsea dominated to take control of the two-leg tie.
Lauren James opened the scoring after a through ball was intercepted but an attempted clearance rebounded off an Ajax defender into her path.
The England forward calmly rounded the goalkeeper to slot into the empty net, with the video assistant referee (VAR) awarding the goal after it was initially ruled out for offside.
Guro Reiten had a goal disallowed by VAR with Nusken stood in an offside position, but the latter scored Chelsea’s second moments later.
The Germany midfielder slid in to meet Reiten’s low cross and steer home for her first Champions League goal.
The second half was a more cagey affair with Chelsea showing patience, but Nusken powered home from a brilliant Catarina Macario cross to put Emma Hayes’ side in compete control before the second leg.
That takes place at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 27 March.
Barcelona, who beat Chelsea in the 2021 final and 2023 semi-finals, or Braan await in the semi-finals.
