Chelsea secure commanding lead in Amsterdam

Chelsea have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after earning a three-goal advantage in the first leg in Amsterdam.

The home side almost took the lead after a bright opening to the game when Chasity Grant's effort beat goalkeeper Hannah Hampton she couldn't get past the woodwork.

The Ajax defence also tried their best to keep Lauren James under wraps but couldn't stop the Chelsea forward from opening the scoring.

James' goal was initially ruled out for offside after the England international picked up the ball in the area and finished past Regina van Eijk. But VAR, which wasn't used in the group stages, intervened on behalf of Chelsea to award the goal.

Hampton's nervy start to the game almost cost Chelsea when she was robbed of the ball which rolled out to Lily Yohannes but the youngster couldn't keep her effort down.

In the dramatic final minutes of the first period, the Blues had a goal disallowed before eventually scoring another to make it 2-0.

The disallowed goal came from a James cross that Guro Reiten was eventually able to convert but the goal was chalked off due to Sjoeke Nüsken being judged to have been interfering in an offside position after a VAR check.

Nüsken quickly made amends just seconds later though when she got on the end of Reiten's low ball from the left.

Emma Hayes' side were in cruise control for much of the second period and made their lead even more commanding with a third goal in the 84th minute.

Catarina Macário has impressed recently as she continues to ease back from injury and the American got another goal involvement for her club as she whipped in a cross from the right that Nüsken rose highest to find the net.

This result effectively puts the tie to bed barring an unlikely Ajax miracle. Hayes will be able to rest some key players for the second leg next Wednesday.

One big step towards the semi-finals. 🙌#UWCL pic.twitter.com/aoolsVf0L3

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 19, 2024