As the Women's Champions League anthem boomed around Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff ArenA and Chelsea and Ajax took their places in the quarter-final's first leg, Chelsea duo Lauren James and Jess Carter shared a giggle. Perhaps they knew. James had only just eviscerated Arsenal five days earlier, her goal tally swelling to 13 back in the Women’s Super League. That the 23-year-old had yet to score in Europe this season felt inconceivable, even silly.
So of course James scored – a cool dinked effort executed after rounding Ajax keeper Regina Van Eijk without fuss, VAR upholding the goal's legitimacy despite initially being ruled offside.
Chelsea are in siege mode. Despite missing notable stars such as Millie Bright, Sam Kerr and record-signing Mayra Ramirez, the club are one step further on their trek to the Champions League final in Bilbao thanks to the opener from James and a second brace in two matches from Sjoeke Nüsken.
With the second leg of the quarter-finals returning to west London later this month, the Blues prospects of finally claiming the trophy which has eluded their decorated manager Emma Hayes look high.
Ajax were good value in the opening exchanges, dynamic in transition and purposeful in their press. Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton discovered the latter swiftly, coming under constant pressure and finding herself fortunate that Ajax couldn’t make more of their chances.
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Manager Emma Hayes had stressed the danger Ajax posed, especially on home turf. The Dutch side won every group stage match at home as they escaped the ‘group of death’, beating notable juggernauts in Bayern Munich and Roma.
And on Tuesday a fervent record home crowd fearlessly rained boos down on James after her opener threatened to scupper that record.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 19: Lauren James of Chelsea dribbles with the ball during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg One match between AFC Ajax and Chelsea FC at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on March 19, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.(Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images) (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)If VAR had been a source of chagrin for the record support, it became a source of salvation just before half-time as Guro Reiten's goal was chalked off due to Nüsken being deemed in an offside position. Yet, whatever respite was felt was short-lived as less than a minute later Reiten found Nusken making a late run to double the visitor's advantage.
Chelsea remained comfortably in the ascendency. Centre-backs Carter and Kadeisha Buchanan did well to temper forward Chastity Grant's threats after the forward smacked the post, while Erin Cuthbert continued to marshal the midfield with unerring tenacity and nearly managed to find a third to put the game to bed midway through the second half.
The added pressure and the calibre of Chelsea's substitutions eventually told as Ashley Lawrence combined with Catarina Macario to tee up Nüsken to head home the visitor's third, securing a successive brace for Nüsken and leaving Ajax with a significant uphill battle when they travel to London for the quarter-final's second leg on March 27.
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