Chelsea suffer first leg defeat against Bayern Munich in UWCL semifinals

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:07 am

Bayern Munich's Hanna Glas tormented Chelsea on Sunday with an assist and a goal as the Frauen Bundesliga leaders beat Emma Hayes' side 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. 

Chelsea were hit with a big injury blow before the game when it was confirmed that captain Magdalena Eriksson would not be fit enough to even appear on the bench and there were nervy moments in the first half. 

- Stream FC Daily on ESPN+

It was a rare mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger which contributed to Bayern taking the lead after 12 minutes. Glas whipped a cross in which went through Berger's hands to the waiting Lohmann who headed it into the net.

Hayes' side looked rattled by the early concession but a stroke of luck gifted them an equaliser 10 minutes later. 

They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which Guro Reiten delivered into the box. Bayern's attempts to clear it saw the ball ricochet off their former player Melanie Leupolz and into the net.

Bayern Munich take the lead into the second leg.
Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images

There was a golden opportunity for Chelsea to take the lead moments into the second half with Pernille Harder scrambling to get a shot off in the box. Eventually, the ball ended up in the hands of Bayern goalkeeper Laura Benkarth

Glas got Bayern's second on 56 minutes when she was given the space to get off a sensational left-footed strike from the edge of the area which dipped into the top corner and beyond Berger's outstretched hand. 

Chelsea's Ji So-Yun rattled the bar moments later with a strong strike from just outside the box, while Beth England attempted to head the rebound past Benkarth but couldn't get any power on it. 

It will be a disappointing afternoon for Hayes and her squad in a week where they took a massive step towards the Women's Super League title with a 2-2 draw against nearest rivals Manchester City. 

"We've got an away goal and it's half-time. That could very easily have gone 3-1 to them, and been a much bigger task for us, so we're not out of it," she said said after the game. 

Paris-Saint Germain and Barcelona played out an entertaining 1-1 draw earlier in the day, with United States international Alana Cook cancelling out Jenni Hermoso's early lead for Barca.