Chelsea's Colombian striker #35 Mayra Ramirez (C) scores the opening goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Chelsea and Ajax at Stamford Bridge in London, on March 27, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Paris: Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League on Wednesday despite a 1-1 draw at home to Ajax, while Lyon also progressed after brushing aside Benfica in France.
Mayra Ramirez put Chelsea into a first-half lead on her European club debut before Chasity Grant equalised for Ajax in the second half.
Chelsea prevailed 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win in the first leg in Amsterdam.
Ajax nearly took the lead in the opening 20 minutes when goalkeeper Zecira Musovic had her clearance charged down by Tiny Hoekstra, but the ball rolled against the post and went agonisingly wide.
Just after the half-hour mark, Ramirez opened her Champions League account with a composed finish after being set free by Guro Reiten.
Now four goals to the good, Emma Hayes' side looked set to cruise into the final four.
Grant put a dampener on the night for Chelsea when she ran on to Hoekstra's through ball and her slightly scuffed finish squirmed its way through Musovic.
With the score level on the night, Chelsea's aggregate lead was insurmountable for Ajax although Musovic did redeem herself in the last 10 minutes when she made excellent fingertip saves to deny Romee Leuchter and then Danique Tolhoek.
