Vllaznia 0-4 Chelsea: Blues ease into European quarter-finals

Vllaznia 0-4 Chelsea: Blues ease into European quarter-finals
_128034231_gettyimages-1245657404.jpgChelsea beat Vllaznia 8-0 when the sides met in London in October

Chelsea claimed a quarter-final spot in the Women's Champions League with ease after beating Vllaznia in Albania in their penultimate group match.

Emma Hayes' side remain unbeaten in the competition and lead Group A with a game to go.

Wales midfielder Sophie Ingle put Chelsea 1-0 up after 12 minutes.

Fran Kirby made it 2-0 shortly afterwards, before Katerina Svitkova and Maren Mjelde, with a penalty, scored late on.

The Blues have made light work of their progression to the knockout stages despite being drawn in a tricky group alongside Spanish side Real Madrid and French two-time finalists Paris St-Germain.

They were guaranteed qualification with a draw - and could still have progressed in defeat depending on results elsewhere.

But the already eliminated Albanian side were no match for Chelsea on a wet evening at the Loro Borici Stadium, despite plenty of endeavour from the hosts.

Ingle, wearing the armband after Hayes made six changes to the starting XI, was heavily involved in the first half, dictating play and scoring a fine goal when she slotted in Guro Reiten's deflected cut-back.

Chelsea's lead was quickly doubled when Jelena Cankovic acted quickly as Vllaznia were slow to react to a free-kick, sliding in for Kirby, who placed it into the far corner.

The Blues' defence was rarely tested, and chances continued to fall their way as Hayes made further changes after the break.

Striker Sam Kerr had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half before the lead was eventually extended when substitute Svitkova flicked in a third, and Mjelde scored from the penalty spot in added time.

Chelsea won 8-0 when they faced Vllaznia at Kingsmeadow but with the job done within 20 minutes, the WSL champions understandably took their foot off the gas.

They go into their final group match against PSG next Thursday knowing their spot in the last eight is already secure - in what is proving a much smoother campaign than last season, where they crashed out in the group stages.

Chelsea join WSL rivals Arsenal in the quarter-finals after they secured qualification on Thursday evening despite a narrow defeat by holders Lyon.

Line-ups

Vllaznia Femra

Formation 4-5-1

33Williams-Mosier

30Popovic19Gjergji6Maliqi16Gjini

10Ramadani14Franja17Lufo8Cavanaugh11Doçi

7Shala

33Williams-Mosier30PopovicBooked at 44minsSubstituted forDavidsonat 45'minutes19GjergjiBooked at 25mins6Maliqi16Gjini10RamadaniSubstituted forVuksaniat 89'minutes14Franja17Lufo8CavanaughSubstituted forKodraat 81'minutes11Doçi7ShalaSubstituted forBorciat 45'minutes

Substitutes

1Raxhimi2Vuksani3Curraj4Davidson12Rexhepi13Piranaj15Berisha18Borci21Kodra24Saranovic25Panayiotou31Baska

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-3-3

1Musovic

15Périsset26Buchanan3Nouwen21Charles

17Fleming5Ingle28Cankovic

14Kirby20Kerr11Reiten

1Musovic15Périsset26BuchananSubstituted forMjeldeat 64'minutes3Nouwen21CharlesSubstituted forCarterat 75'minutes17Fleming5IngleSubstituted forJamesat 65'minutes28Cankovic14KirbySubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 75'minutes20Kerr11ReitenSubstituted forSvitkováat 64'minutes

Substitutes

4Bright7Carter9England10James13Svitková16Eriksson18Mjelde19Rytting Kaneryd22Cuthbert30Berger32Orman

Live Text

Match ends, Vllaznia Femra 0, Chelsea Women 4.

Second Half ends, Vllaznia Femra 0, Chelsea Women 4.

Goal! Vllaznia Femra 0, Chelsea Women 4. Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

Penalty conceded by Sara Maliqi (Vllaznia Femra) with a hand ball in the penalty area.

Substitution, Vllaznia Femra. Suzane Vuksani replaces Rrezona Ramadani.

Goal! Vllaznia Femra 0, Chelsea Women 3. Katerina Svitková (Chelsea Women) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic with a cross following a corner.

Attempt saved. Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic with a cross.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Luçije Gjini.

Attempt missed. Maren Mjelde (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ève Périsset with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Sara Maliqi.

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Sara Maliqi.

Substitution, Vllaznia Femra. Arlinda Kodra replaces Meghan Cavanaugh.

Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Megi Doçi (Vllaznia Femra).

Attempt saved. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ève Périsset.

Offside, Vllaznia Femra. Rrezona Ramadani tries a through ball, but Ezmiralda Franja is caught offside.

Foul by Jelena Cankovic (Chelsea Women).

Ezmiralda Franja (Vllaznia Femra) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd replaces Fran Kirby.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jess Carter replaces Niamh Charles.

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