2025-10-08 18:49:42
Ameé RuszkaiChelsea women’s player ratings vs Twente: Electric Alyssa Thompson unable to haul Blues to Champions League victory as Sonia Bompastor’s side make false startChelsea made a surprisingly sloppy start to their Women’s Champions League campaign on Wednesday night, dropping two points away at a Twente side that featured just one senior international in its starting line-up. The Blues are expected to be one of the main contenders for the trophy this season but they didn’t look like it here, as Sonia Bompastor’s much-changed team was made to work, and work hard, for a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands.
While the English champions showed seven alterations from their goalless draw with Manchester United on Friday night, this was still a star-studded XI that Chelsea put out; it was just one that lacked cohesion and chemistry in a rather disjointed display. Twente were out from the get-go to take advantage, too, creating the better chances in the early stages only to be denied by great defending from Ellie Carpenter on two occasions in particular.That said, the Blues had their opportunities, too. Maika Hamano fired a big one over the bar and Guro Reiten had another well-blocked before the impressive Alyssa Thompson thought she’d broken the deadlock just after the break, only for the offside flag to go up for an infringement earlier in the move.
It was not long after that when Twente punished Chelsea for their surprising lack of ruthlessness, as a great run from Jill Roord caught the visitors out and ended with Danique van Ginkel curling home a beautiful opener.Fortunately for Bompastor’s side, there was still plenty of time to respond and they had the chance to do so from the penalty spot, with Sandy Baltimore able to level things up after Reiten was fouled. But the Blues couldn’t find that crucial second, with teenage debutante Chloe Sarwie closest to doing so on the edge of the box as the English giants began their European campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw.GOAL rates Chelsea’s players from De Grolsch Veste…
Chelsea Women’s highly anticipated Women’s Champions League campaign commenced with unexpected turbulence as Sonia Bompastor’s squad stumbled to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Twente at De Grolsch Veste on Wednesday night. Despite arriving as one of Europe’s most formidable contenders and fielding a lineup brimming with international talent, the Blues appeared disjointed and uncharacteristically vulnerable throughout the contest. Twente, whose starting eleven included just a single senior international player, capitalized on Chelsea’s shaky defensive organization from the outset, generating dangerous chances that required last-ditch heroics from Ellie Carpenter to prevent an early deficit. The Dutch side’s relentless aggression exposed glaring gaps in the visitors’ cohesion, setting the tone for a night where the English champions struggled to impose their usual dominance despite their pedigree and resources.
The magnitude of Chelsea’s underwhelming display was amplified by Bompastor’s decision to rotate seven players from their previous league fixture against Manchester United. While the changes aimed to manage squad depth ahead of a grueling season, the resulting XI lacked the rhythm and telepathic understanding synonymous with the team’s domestic successes. Twente’s midfield swarmed confidently, disrupting Chelsea’s passing lanes and forcing uncharacteristic errors, particularly in transition phases where the Blues’ defensive line struggled to maintain its shape. Maika Hamano squandered a golden opportunity just before halftime, blazing her shot high over the crossbar, while Guro Reiten saw a promising effort stifled by a well-timed block. The pivotal moment arrived early in the second half when Alyssa Thompson, displaying electrifying pace and intent, slotted home what seemed like the opening goal—only to have the joy extinguished by an offside call stemming from a marginal infringement earlier in the attack. This sequence epitomized Chelsea’s wastefulness and heightened the sense of frustration as Twente grew bolder.
Capitalizing on Chelsea’s mounting anxiety, Twente delivered a decisive blow through a stunning counterattack orchestrated by Jill Roord. The Dutch midfielder carved through Chelsea’s midfield with incisive dribbling before feeding Danique van Ginkel, whose curling finish nestled perfectly into the far corner, sending the home crowd into raptures. Yet Bompastor’s side responded with renewed urgency, earning a pivotal penalty when Reiten was upended inside the box. Sandy Baltimore stepped up to clinically convert from the spot, restoring parity and injecting hope as the clock ticked toward the final whistle. Despite late surges that saw teenage debutant Chloe Sarwie come agonizingly close with a fierce strike from the edge of the area, Chelsea’s finishing lacked the precision needed to secure all three points. The draw, while salvageable, represented a significant missed opportunity against a team widely perceived as a group-stage minnow, casting immediate doubt on the squad’s readiness for the Champions League’s punishing demands.
This underwhelming result marks a jarring false start for a Chelsea side brimming with silverware ambitions, highlighting alarming vulnerabilities in defensive stability and attacking sharpness that demand swift correction. The draw leaves Sonia Bompastor with critical questions to address regarding squad depth management and tactical adaptability, especially with tougher fixtures looming against continental giants like Barcelona and Bayern Munich. While the resilience to claw back from a goal down offers a sliver of consolation, the performance underscored that talent alone cannot compensate for lapses in concentration and execution at this elite level. As European nights intensify, Chelsea must rediscover the fluidity and ruthlessness that define title candidates—or risk watching their dream of lifting the trophy evaporate before the knockout stages even begin.
