Chelsea Women 0-0 Hacken Women: Blues held to frustrating draw

Emma Hayes bemoaned Chelsea’s poor finishing after they were held to a frustrating draw by Hacken in the Champions League.

But they were twice denied by the woodwork, and although they enjoyed the vast majority of the ball, they lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Sam Kerr had a goal disallowed after she drifted offside before heading a Lauren James cross into the back of the net.

Hacken were well organised and managed to smother most of the Women’s Super League leaders’ attacking efforts.

Erin Cuthbert came agonisingly close to putting the Blues ahead in the first half but her first-time drive ricocheted downwards off the crossbar and bounced away from the goalline.

Kerr also nodded a second-half Guro Reiten corner onto the bar.

“The execution in and around the box is where it was lacking and we got a bit frustrated with that,” said Blues boss Hayes.

“Our technical execution rather than the decision making was the problem.

“If one had gone in then it would have been a different outcome, we would have gone on to win the game comfortably but that is not the case so we take a point and move on.”

Chelsea had 71% of the possession and 22 shots to Hacken’s six, but were unable to make the most of their control.

• Chelsea v Hacken as it happened, plus reaction and analysis

Emma Hayes’ side are now second in Group D with five points from three games.

Hacken, who remain unbeaten, top the group on seven points.

Real Madrid, whose only point so far came from a draw with Chelsea in their opening game, are bottom after they were beaten 2-1 by Paris FC in the group’s earlier game.

Chelsea undone by structured Hacken defence

Swedish runners-up Hacken had not played a game since they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League on 23 November.

But they managed to defend resolutely from the beginning to hold back a torrent of Chelsea attacking moves.

Probing runs from Reiten and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd offered promise in the final third for Chelsea, while Kerr and Fran Kirby tried to carve out pockets of space inside the box.

The Blues easily broke down their Swedish opposition’s midfield and worked tirelessly to try and break the deadlock but their efforts were fruitless.

Hacken sat deep, maintaining their shape throughout the game, and pressed Chelsea with numbers whenever they went forwards.

The visitors were scarcely able to counter-attack and when they did they were nullified by the midfield duo of Cuthbert and Sophie Ingle.

Chelsea, who were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal in the league on Sunday, named Lauren James among their substitutes.

James, who has scored six times in the league, came on in the 64th minute and she provided the delivery for Kerr’s disallowed goal.

Chelsea play Bristol City in the league on Sunday before they have another chance to move above Hacken when they meet in Sweden on Wednesday, 20 December (20:00 GMT).

Hacken play on an artificial pitch at their ground in Gothenburg.

Hayes added: “It is a different surface so we are going to adjust to that, but I am sure if we get the right detail and do it in the right moments we have enough quality to win the game.”