Chelsea, Barcelona advance to Women’s Champions League semifinals

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Chelsea and Barcelona advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday.

Pernille Harder scored against her former team to lead Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg, and 5-1 on aggregate. Canadian international midfielder Jessie Fleming came on for Chelsea in the 78th minute.

While Canadian international Janine Beckie scored in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Barcelona, the Spanish side advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

Chelsea will face either Bayern Munich or Rosengard in the semifinals. Bayern defeated the Swedish club 3-0 in the first leg, and they play again Thursday in Malmo. Canadian international Stephanie Labbe is Rosengard’s No. 1 ‘keeper.

Barcelona awaits either five-time defending champion Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain. The Lyon-PSG second leg was moved to April 18 after a coronavirus outbreak in the Lyon squad.

Three Canadians could see action in that showdown — defender Kadeisha Buchanan for Lyon and fullback/midfielder Ashley Lawrence and forward Jordyn Huitema for PSG.

In Budapest, Harder converted a penalty in the 27th minute and Sam Kerr doubled the lead five minutes later. Both players had scored last week in the first leg. Fran Kirby added the third goal in the second half.

Chelsea and Wolfsburg played their quarterfinal legs in Budapest because of travel restrictions. Chelsea was the “away” team on Wednesday.

Harder, who joined Chelsea from Wolfsburg in September, sent a long ball for Kerr, who was taken down by defender Sara Doorsoun. From the penalty spot, the Denmark captain then sent goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek the wrong way, rolling the ball into the corner.

Kerr scored in the 32nd minute, collecting a chipped pass with her back to the goal. The Australia striker turned and fired a right-footed shot low just inside the post.

Kirby worked a give-and-go with Ji So-Yun and beat Kiedrzynek from close range in the 81st minute.

In Manchester, Beckie swept in a loose ball after a corner kick in 20th minute to give City hope of a comeback.

But just before the hour mark, Barca striker Asisat Oshoala tapped in from close range for a crucial away goal. She had earlier come close to scoring several times but had been denied by defender Lucy Bronze and goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

American international Sam Mewis converted a penalty in the 68th minute for City.

The final is scheduled for May 16 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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With files from The Canadian Press

The Associated Press