AFCON 2025
The UEFA Women’s Champions League served up convincing victories and late drama yesterday, with European heavyweights asserting their dominance while one underdog made history.
Chelsea recorded their first group win in style, sweeping aside Paris FC 4–0 at Stamford Bridge. Sandy Baltimore put the Blues ahead from the penalty spot on the half hour, before Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s header doubled the lead before the break.
A first Chelsea goal for teenager Alyssa Thompson and a late strike from Erin Cuthbert sealed a comfortable night for Sonia Bompastor’s side, who controlled possession and never looked threatened.
In Italy, Barcelona maintained their perfect start with a 4–0 win away at Roma. Esmee Brugts scored inside two minutes, Kika Nazareth added a second after the interval, and captain Alexia Putellas converted a late penalty. Caroline Graham Hansen came off the bench to finish the scoring, keeping the Spanish champions firmly on top of their group.
Eight-time winners Lyon were equally dominant, easing past St. Pölten 3–0 at home. Jule Brand opened the scoring, Ada Hegerberg headed in a second before halftime, and 16-year-old Lily Yohannes produced a stunning lob in the second half to become the club’s youngest group-stage goalscorer.
In Norway, Wolfsburg left it late to edge Vålerenga 2–1. Lineth Beerensteyn put the Germans ahead shortly before the hour, only for Sara Hørte to equalise from a corner. Janina Minge secured the win in stoppage time from the penalty spot after a handball.
The most dramatic finish of the night came in Belgium, where OH Leuven stunned Twente 2–1. Jaimy Ravensbergen gave the Dutch side the lead just before halftime, but Linde Veefkind levelled from the spot in the second half. Deep into added time, Sára Pusztai scored a 96th-minute winner to deliver the first ever group-stage victory by a Belgian side in the competition.
The results leave Barcelona, Lyon and Wolfsburg on maximum points after two games, while Chelsea recover strongly from their opening draw. Leuven’s late winner puts them firmly in contention in one of the competition’s tightest groups.
