Chelsea are the dominant force in English women's football. They're one of the best teams in Europe, even, and a side who always find a way to win. On Thursday, when Hacken were in town for their UEFA Women's Champions League clash, the Blues were far from their best but it always felt like that goal would come and that they would somehow get the win they needed to take top spot in Group D. But for once, that wasn't the case. Instead, a goalless draw means that Hacken, the Swedish underdogs, sit at the summit, ahead of Chelsea, Real Madrid and a giant-killing Paris FC side, at the halfway point of the group stage.
The Blues never really looked in danger of conceding but were flat throughout the game at the other end of the pitch, their play lacking any real urgency or incision to break down a Hacken side that came into this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Real Madrid. Erin Cuthbert hit the bar in the first half after doing well with a pass that came at her at an awkward height and the Scotland international set up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd just before the hour for Chelsea's best chance, too, but the Swede was thwarted one-on-one by Jennifer Falk as she tried to break the deadlock against her former club.
Sam Kerr hit the bar moments later from a corner and looked to have got the hosts the goal they were searching for when she nodded home a cross from Lauren James as the game entered its final stages, only to be denied by the offside flag. Chelsea did pile on the pressure as the final whistle neared but few clear-cut opportunities came from their dominance, with James having a shot parried away in stoppage time as Hacken held on for a very valuable draw which keeps them a point ahead of the Blues in Group D.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge...