Chelsea Women remain unbeaten in the Women’s Champions League but were left frustrated in Gothenburg on Tuesday night, held to a goalless draw by BK Hacken after having the ball in the net twice in the first half and running into an inspired Jennifer Falk.
Sonia Bompastor’s side dominated at the Bravida Arena, as Sky Sports reported, but could not find a way through on matchday four of the league phase. The point takes Chelsea outright second in the table after four matches, one point behind defending champions Barcelona, although the perfect Catalans still hold a game in hand, according to AFP.
Two Goals Ruled Out in a Frustrating First Half
Chelsea thought they had the perfect start after just five minutes, when Wieke Kaptein steered in from a corner. The celebrations were cut short, with Lexi Potter deemed to be offside and tangling with the goalkeeper as the ball went in.
On 28 minutes the Blues had the ball in the net again. Melvine Malard raced through on goal and produced a brilliant angled finish, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside after she strayed beyond the last defender.
Hacken had arrived as the league phase’s joint second-lowest scorers, but their plan was never about outscoring Chelsea. It was about surviving, and in Falk they had the player of the match. The Swedish goalkeeper was her side’s busiest player all night, and her defining moment came just three minutes into the second half, when she used a strong hand to deny the lively Ellie Carpenter from close range after Malard had played her in.
Hacken Almost Steal It at the Death
For all Chelsea’s control, the night nearly turned into something far worse. On 87 minutes Hacken broke on the counter and Bodin got in behind, beyond Veerle Buurman, only to be forced a little wide before Livia Peng made a great save to preserve Chelsea’s point and their unbeaten record.
It was a warning Chelsea should heed. They had beaten Austria Vienna and Roma at home either side of a goalless draw at Lyon to build this position, and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Everton in the Women’s Super League had already ended a five-game winning run. Bompastor’s message afterwards, via the club, was simple: refocus and move on. The Chelsea story this week has otherwise belonged to the club’s past, with Cahill returning to Stamford Bridge for a Legends clash.
So What Does This Mean for Chelsea?
Second place with four games played is still a strong position, and a top-four finish brings direct passage to the quarter-finals. But Barcelona’s game in hand means Chelsea have likely lost control of top spot, and nights like this are exactly how a favourable knockout path slips away. The wider women’s game keeps producing stories Chelsea will want to match, not least Nigeria’s Flamingos reaching a first-ever final last week.
Beyond the Final Whistle: This was two points dropped, however well Falk played. Champions do not need to be brilliant in Gothenburg in November, but they do need to be ruthless — and a side that has the ball in the net twice, dominates the game and still leaves with a draw has only itself to blame. Chelsea remain unbeaten and well placed, yet the margin at the top is gone. Did Chelsea deserve more in Sweden, or was a point a fair result? Tell us in the comments.
