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Pernille Harder scored against her old club as Chelsea survived an onslaught to beat Wolfsburg in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The German side twice hit the post and saw Ewa Pajor’s overhead kick cleared off the line as Chelsea looked fragile.
But Emma Hayes’ side led when Sam Kerr rounded Katarzyna Kiedrzynek to score and Harder slotted a second after the Wolfsburg keeper gave the ball away.
Dominique Janssen got an away goal from the spot but Chelsea held firm to win.
Both legs of the last-eight tie are being played in the Hungarian capital Budapest because coronavirus travel restrictions in Germany prevent the two-time Champions League winners from travelling to the UK.
Chelsea will be the away team for the second leg next Wednesday, knowing they will reach the semi-finals of the competition for a third time if they avoid defeat.
Blues hold nerve to end hoodoo
Three of Chelsea’s four previous European campaigns have been ended by Wolfsburg – most recently in the 2017-18 semi-finals – and the Women’s Super League champions had failed to beat the German giants in their six previous meetings, losing five of them.
This one looked like going the same way for large parts – Alexandra Popp prodding against the inside of the post and having a goal disallowed for a blatant handball, while Chelsea goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger made an excellent double save before Pajor’s acrobatic effort was kept out by the head of Jonna Andersson.
The second half started in the same manner, Fridolina Rolfo’s powerful header striking the post, but completely against the run of play Chelsea scored with their first attempt on target and turned the game.
Fran Kirby and Kerr have already combined for eight WSL goals this season and the combination struck gold once more, Kirby helping Ji So-yun’s pass on first time to the Australia striker, who finished high into the net from a tight angle.
The excellent Berger tipped over Rolfo’s point-blank volley but the Blues then doubled their advantage, Kiedrzynek’s short goal kick seized upon by England’s Kirby, whose pass to Kerr found Harder who provided a low, calm finish.
The Denmark forward kept celebrations to a minimum against the club where she spent three years before leaving for London in September.
Last year’s Champions League runners-up and German champions Wolfsburg were handed a late lifeline when Magdalena Eriksson clattered Svenja Huth in the box and former Arsenal defender Janssen fired the resulting penalty into the top corner.
The last 20 minutes were tense for Chelsea, who saw boss Emma Hayes booked for her complaints after Berger and Popp collided, but they held their nerve and have something to hold on to in the second leg next week.
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