.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
When Chelsea landed in Gothenburg ahead of their Women's Champions League clash with Hacken, they could've been forgiven for feeling a little uneasy. After all, it was right here, two and a half years ago, that they suffered their biggest heartbreak, defeated 4-0 in their first European final by Barcelona. But they at least created some fond memories in the Swedish city on Wednesday as a 3-1 win saw them wrestle control of Group D from their hosts, just six days after the pair played out what was, for Chelsea, a disappointing stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
There was an incredible lack of entertainment in that meeting in London last week but that wasn't the case in Gothenburg, with action at both ends of the pitch making this a lively affair that either side looked capable of winning. Hacken knew that victory would send them into the knockout rounds and they hit the bar in the opening minutes, after some gorgeous footwork by Rosa Kafaji, who ranked 11th in GOAL's 2022 NXGN list, allowed Clarissa Larisey to find Anna Anvegard with a cross, but her superb first-time effort cannoned back off the woodwork.
It was Chelsea who took the lead instead, as winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd came back to haunt her former team when her fantastic work down the right allowed Sam Kerr to produce a truly special finish to break the deadlock. The Swedish side continued to threaten and did equalise before half-time. Monica Jusu Bah was released in behind and able to pick out Larisey to finish, but Erin Cuthbert's arrowed strike put the Blues back ahead in the second half and the win rarely looked in doubt from there, with the Scot even able to net another to make sure.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Bravida Arena...