Chelsea has successfully advanced to the league phase of the Women’s Champions League, triumphing over Real Sociedad with a 1-0 victory in the second leg and securing a 6-2 win on aggregate in their third-round qualifying match.
The pivotal moment came early in the second half when Keira Walsh scored the decisive goal. She capitalized on a corner in the 54th minute, effectively quashing Real Sociedad’s hopes of staging a comeback.
Entering the second leg with a robust 5-2 lead from the first encounter, Chelsea found themselves challenged by a disciplined Real Sociedad defense in San Sebastián. Despite the comfortable aggregate advantage, Sonia Bompastor’s side struggled to exhibit their best attacking form, as the home team posed a resilient and organized defensive front.
During the first half, Chelsea had difficulty creating clear opportunities. Ellie Carpenter emerged as their primary offensive threat from the right flank, though her crosses were not fully exploited. Aggie Beever-Jones nearly scored before Walsh’s goal but was denied by a save from goalkeeper Julia Arrula. Moments later, Walsh’s crucial goal gave Chelsea complete control over the tie.
With the Women’s Super League opener against Aston Villa on the horizon, Bompastor opted to make several substitutions, allowing squad rotation and offering younger players valuable match experience. New signings Nelly Las and Giulia Dragoni made their debuts from the bench, and 17-year-old Chloe Sarwie saw action in the closing minutes. Despite Chelsea’s less than convincing performance over both legs, securing passage to the Champions League league phase was the primary goal, providing competitive preparation for their domestic campaign. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will continue their European journey in the Europa League after failing to overturn the first-leg deficit.