Juventus 1-2 Chelsea: Pernille Harder provides late winner

Juventus 1-2 Chelsea: Emma Hayes’ side move level on points with Wolfsburg thanks to Pernille Harder’s winner in their second Champions League group game

  • Chelsea beat Juventus 2-1 in the Champions League group game on Wednesday
  • They drew their Champions League group opener against Wolfsburg last week
  • However, it was Pernille Harder’s 69th minute goal that gave Chelsea the win
  • Chelsea now sit second in Group A, level on points with leaders Wolfsburg

Pernille Harder was the hero for the second week running as Chelsea Women beat Juventus 2-1 in the Champions League.

The Blues needed a late Harder goal to claim a point in their opening group match with Wolfsburg and the Danish international was on hand to score the winner at the Allianz Arena.

The striker is in superb form with four goals in her last five games and she is making a habit of digging team out of holes. The Blues were struggling to break down a resilient Leicester side in the WSL on Sunday before Harder came off the bench to break the deadlock in the 80th minute.

Pernille Harder’s 69th minute goal gave Chelsea the win over Juventus on Wednesday night

Chelsea managed to claim all three points after some poor defending saw them draw their Champions League group stage opener against Wolfsburg last week

But this is why Emma Hayes’ side paid a record transfer fee for the 28-year-old last summer. It came as no surprise to see Harder’s name on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or last week and she will be one of the contenders to win that prize later this year.

After dropping points against Wolfsburg last week, Chelsea knew they really needed a victory in Turin and it was a familiar face who was looking to stop them.

Joe Montemurro’s last triumph over Hayes came in 2018 when his Arsenal side beat Chelsea 5-0. But his last six games against the Blues’ resulted in five defeats and a draw.

Montemurro’s last triumph over Hayes came in 2018 when his Arsenal side beat Chelsea 5-0

Lina Hurtig started brightly and looked to cause problems in behind Chelsea’s defence

But it was Chelsea who grew into the game and started to dominate possession, with Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr almost combining for the opener

The Australian left the Gunners at the end of last season and while his former club are blossoming under new boss Jonas Eidevall, Montemurro has made an impressive start in Turin.

Juve are joint top of Serie A and have won all of their six games, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one.

MATCH FACTS

Juventus (4-3-3): Peyraud-Magnin, Lundorf, Gama, Salvai (Lenzini 73), Boattin, Rosucci (Caruso 81) Pedersen, Cernoia, Bonansea (Bonfantini 72), Hurtig, Girelli (Staskova 81)

Subs not used: Giai, Nilden, Pfattner, Beccari, Aprile, Zamanian, Hyyrynen

Goals: Cuthbert 31, Harder 68

Chelsea (3-4-3): Berger, Bright, Carter, Eriksson, Cuthbert (Fleming 65), Leupolz, Ji (Ingle 74) , Reiten, Kirby (Andersson 83), Kerr, Harder

Subs not used: Telford, Spence, Fox, Nuowen, Musovic, Charles, Mjelde, England

Goals: Bonansea 37

Referee: Ivana Martinic

They beat Swiss side Servette 3-0 in their opening group game and it was clear from kick-off that the Italians were in a confident mood.

Lina Hurtig started brightly and looked to cause problems in behind Chelsea’s defence, with Jess Carter having to be on her toes to stop the striker getting a shot off early on.

But it was Chelsea who grew into the game and started to dominate possession, with Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr almost combining for the opener, but the Australian’s shot was inadvertently blocked by team-mate Ji So-Yun.

The Blues did break the deadlock on the half hour mark, however. Cuthbert found space on the right wing, took one touch to come inside then raced in the box and finished calmly into the bottom right corner.

But Juve were level just six minutes later when Lisa Boattin’s cross from the left wing found Barbara Bonansea at the back post, who beat Guro Reiten to the ball to place a side-footed first-time volley into the bottom corner.

The Blues were almost given a gift just before half-time when Juve goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin dithered on the ball and was charged down by Sam Kerr. The striker managed to block the ‘keeper’s clearance but the ball bounced narrowly wide of the post.

Chelsea had a great chance to retake the lead in the 58th minute when Reiten pulled the ball back to Harder on the penalty spot, but her finish flew just wide of the post.

Nevertheless, Barbara Bonansea did provide Juventus with one goal on Wednesday evening 

Chelsea’s victory puts Emma Hayes’ side second in Group A, level on points with Wolfsburg

But the Danish international more than made up for that miss 10 minutes later when she fired her side in front. Kerr’s blocked shot fell kindly for the striker and she fired a first-time effort past Peyraud-Magnin.

The Juve goalkeeper was responsible for the score remaining 2-1 when she made a stunning one-handed save to keep out Kerr’s fierce shot, which was heading for the top left hand corner.

Chelsea’s victory puts them second in Group A, level on points with Wolfsburg but with an inferior goal difference. 




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article