For the first time under Sonia Bompastor, the Blues were forced to come from behind to secure victory, with Celtic defeated 2-1 in our UEFA Champions League group stage clash in Glasgow.

Having controlled the early stages, the Blues fell behind midway through the first half when Murphy Agnew raced through to score. However, Celtic's lead only lasted six minutes as Maika Hamano levelled with a close-range finish.

We soon went ahead when Ashley Lawrence found the back of the net in the 32nd minute, and the Canadian's goal proved to be the match-winner in the Group B encounter.

Our performance in Glasgow ensured we maintained an impressive start to our European campaign, with three wins claimed from three matches. Across all competitions, each of Bompastor's nine games in charge have ended in victory for the Blues.

Fresh faces

Our head coach made eight changes from last weekend's Women's Super League win at Liverpool, with Zecira Musovic, Eve Perriset, Nathalie Bjorn, Maelys Mpome, Lawrence, Wieke Kaptein, Oriane Jean-Francois, and Aggie Beever-Jones coming into the starting XI.

The Blues began on the front foot and Jean-Francois registered our first meaningful opportunity of the contest. The French midfielder was picked out by Beever-Jones but sent her strike narrowly over the crossbar.

Kaptein was next to have a go as the midfielder held off her marker, drove forward and fired a low drive toward goal. Celtic goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty was, on this occasion, able to make a comfortable save.

We were made to pay for those missed chances as the home side took the lead in the 21st minute. Capitalising on the Blues losing possession in the middle of the pitch, Amy Gallacher sent a through ball beyond our defence. It found Agnew, who slotted the ball beyond Musovic to make it 1-0.

Celtic's lead was shortlived, though, thanks to a goal from Hamano. Beever-Jones did well to take the ball to the byline and then found the Japan international just outside the six-yard box. She made no mistake in stabbing it home.


Four minutes later, the Blues took the lead. Captain for the evening Erin Cuthbert saw a powerful strike blocked by a Celtic shirt and Lawrence hit a lofted effort on the rebound which crashed into the back of the net to make it 2-1 just after the half-hour mark.

We looked to add to our advantage and Cuthbert went close as she saw a deflected shot collected in the air by goalkeeper Daugherty. Our midfielder soon hit another hit just high of the target.

Celtic fashioned an opportunity to equalise near the end of the first half. It was Agnew again who proved dangerous as she burst forward with pace, managed to reach the ball before Perriset, and fired a low shot towards Musocic. The Chelsea stopper made the save.

After the interval, substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hit a powerful strike that was deflected behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Lucy Bronze, also introduced after half-time, had her header cleared off the line by Celtic captain Kelly Clark.

Celtic continued to try to hit the Blues on a break and saw a blocked effort go behind for a corner. The eventual rebounded effort from the set-piece from Lucy Ashworth-Clifford was high and wide of the target.

At the other end, Cat Macario - playing her first Champions League minutes of the season from the bench - saw a strike fizz just wide of the post. The American soon had another effort from outside the box saved by goalkeeper Daugherty.

Bjorn also had an opportunity to extend our advantage but could only direct a close-range effort over.

With 15 minutes to play, Ashworth-Clifford created another opportunity for the hosts after good work down the right flank. The attack caused a nervous moment in the Blues backline before we were eventually able to clear.

Chances continued to be fashioned by the Blues and Beever-Jones almost made it 3-1 in the closing stages in Glasgow. However, our forward saw her close-range header well saved by Daugherty, and Rytting Kaneryd also saw a strike smothered by the Celtic goalkeeper.

The only disappointment for the Blues was that in the dying seconds of the contest, Beever-Jones fouled Colette Cavanagh and was shown a second yellow card. She will now miss next week's match between the two sides at Stamford Bridge.

What it means

Victory against Celtic ensures we remain top of Group B with three wins from three and a maximum of nine points gained.

What next

The Blues are in Women's Super League action on Saturday evening as we host Manchester City in a top-two clash at Stamford Bridge. Our next Champions League match, which takes place in SW6 on Wednesday night, is against Celtic.

The teams

Celtic: Daugherty; Costa (Hayes 60), McGregor, Clark, Barclais, Ross (Cavanagh 69), Smith, Ashworth-Clifford (McAneny 90+1), Gallacher (Noonan 69), Lawton, Agnew (Cross 69)
Unused substitutes: Logan, Rodgers, Richardson, S Carstens, M Carstens, Munoz
Scorers: Agnew 22
Booked: Lawton 87

Chelsea: Musovic; Perisset, Bjorn, Mpome, Lawrence (Rytting Kaneryd 46), Kaptein, Cuthbert (Reiten 46), Jean-Francois, Hamano (Macario 58), Baltimore (Bronze 46), Beever-Jones
Unused substitutes: Hampton, Cox, Bartel
Scorers: Hamano 28, Lawrence 32
Booked: Beever-Jones 82 and 90+4, Kaptein 89
Sent off: Beever-Jones