Wieke Kaptein shared her relief after Chelsea began their Women’s Champions League journey with a victory against Austria Wien on Wednesday. Kaptein’s remarkable goal in the 11th minute secured a 1-0 win, although the debuting Wien team had multiple opportunities to level the score.
Shortly after Kaptein’s goal, Alyssa Thompson missed a chance, and Wien soon appeared more formidable, creating several scoring opportunities that required strong saves from Livia Peng. Virginia Kirchberger narrowly missed from close range, and Louise Schoffel’s shot flew past the bottom-left corner as Wien gained momentum towards the end of the first half.
Peng stayed alert, stopping attempts from Valentina Potzl and Modesta Uka, with Uka’s shot hitting the left post—Wien’s best chance for an equalizer. Despite Chelsea’s 13 shots generating an expected goals (xG) total of 1.4, Wien managed a xG of 0.9 from two additional attempts.
Kaptein recognized the challenges her team faced, emphasizing they could have capitalized more on their early dominance. “It was a tough game; they pressured us and made it challenging,” she told Disney+. “We could have scored more goals and needed to make them count. Overall, we won, which is good, but we must now focus on the next match.”
“For sure [relief]. In the last 10 minutes, we were fighting. We stayed united as a team, but we could have controlled the ball better. They are not in the Champions League for nothing and were a real threat in our half. But we must reflect on our performance; we could have punished them more.”
STARTING OUR LEAGUE PHASE WITH A WIN! #UWCL pic.twitter.com/zhApU5tAwp
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 23, 2026
Chelsea’s win followed a shaky 2-0 victory against Birmingham City in the Women’s Super League, maintaining their unbeaten league start. After a frustrating 1-1 draw with Aston Villa to kick off their campaign, Chelsea had previously thrashed Manchester United 5-0, but their recent performances have not been at their best.
This Sunday, they will face a tough challenge against Arsenal, who are two points behind in the WSL after earning five points from their first three games. However, Thompson believes the hard-earned win over Wien is a stepping stone as Chelsea prepares to return to domestic play. “The team came together in the end, and we fought as hard as possible,” Thompson said. “It was a good test for our first game, providing us with a physical challenge.”
“We will encounter various styles of play in the Champions League, so every test is valuable for us. Securing three points is a positive outcome. Though we lost some tackles and our level dipped a bit, we rallied and were ready for a physical fight. We knew the kind of game we had to play; we’re strong and capable of adjusting our style, so ultimately, we just had to battle.”
Fan Take: This victory signifies not only a promising start for Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League but also highlights the competitiveness and growth of women’s soccer on the international stage. As clubs face various styles and challenges, it contributes to a richer narrative within the sport, making every match a crucial stepping stone toward greater recognition and support for women’s football.
Source: www.soccernews.com
