Russo on target as Arsenal roast Chelsea in Women's Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash

Item 1 of 6 Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Champions League - Quarter Finals - First Leg - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 24, 2026 Arsenal's Alessia Russo celebrates scoring their third goal with Stina Blackstenius Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs March 24 (Reuters) - Alessio Russo netted her eighth goal in the Women's Champions League ​this season as holders Arsenal thumped ‌London rivals Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday. The Gunners roared into ​an early lead as Swedish forward Stina ​Blackstenius, who scored the only goal ⁠of last season's final against Barcelona, headed ​the opener from Katie McCabe's free kick in ​the 22nd minute. Arsenal went in 2-0 up at the break thanks to a superb long-range strike from ​England winger Chloe Kelly, but Chelsea's ​Lauren James lashed an even better effort into the ‌top ⁠corner in the 66th minute to reduce the deficit. With the wind howling around the Emirates Stadium and the rain pouring down, Russo ​restored Arsenal's ​two-goal cushion ⁠ahead of the second leg as she latched on to a ​Blackstenius pass and steered the ball ​past ⁠Hannah Hampton. Earlier in the evening, a deflected Lineth Beerensteyn shot gave German side VfL ⁠Wolfsburg ​a 1-0 win over eight-time ​champions Olympique Lyonnais ahead of next week's second leg ​in France. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab