Harder on target to give Chelsea hopes a boost
Pernille Harder’s “outstanding” contribution for Chelsea was lauded by manager Emma Hayes after the Denmark forward scored her third goal in as many games to earn Chelsea an away victory over Juventus in the Women’s Champions League.
Harder’s sixth goal in eight matches in all competitions for Chelsea this season gave last season’s European finalists a 2-1 win in Turin that greatly enhances their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
“This is already an amazing team and she has taken us to an even higher level because her standards day in and day out are what every young person should look up to,” Hayes said of Harder, who was in the right place at the right time to fire home the winner on the rebound after Sam Kerr’s initial shot had been blocked.
“She takes responsibility, she’s accountable, she’s there when it really matters, she’s there for this team and I’m so delighted – she had an outstanding performance.”
Harder, who has been a Women’s Champions League runner-up three times and has always desperately wanted to go one further, said: “I feel good, I feel like I’m in a flow. I just keep building and keep developing both me and the team and I love that.”
If Harder can continue her relentless goalscoring at crucial moments, Chelsea may well find themselves back at the Allianz Stadium in May, when this impressive, modern venue will host the final.
Juventus’s women typically play their home league games at the club’s training ground, but they staged this game at the usual home of their male side and offered free tickets – 16,781 fans took up that offer and created a crackling atmosphere after a pre-match lights show.
“This is what a Champions League evening should feel like,” Harder said. “It felt full. It’s an unbelievable stadium, a great pitch, it was amazing.”
Juventus, now managed by former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro, are bidding for their fifth straight Serie A title and had won 11 games in a row in all competitions before Chelsea’s arrival in northern Italy. Yet the Blues controlled most of the ball early on and Scotland’s
Erin Cuthbert collected Harder’s diagonal pass, bursting into the area from the right at pace to fire a low shot into the bottom corner to open the scoring. Six minutes later, Juventus sprung to life as Barbara Bonansea volleyed Lisa Boattin’s floating pass into the bottom corner, with Chelsea goalkeeper Annkatrin Berger helpless.
After half-time, Chelsea carved open the better chances as Harder side-footed narrowly wide, not long after swerving another effort into the side netting. Valentina Cernoia curled a free-kick wide for the hosts before Harder – who scored Chelsea’s stoppage-time equaliser against Wolfsburg seven days previously – was the heroine again as she grabbed the winner.
Chelsea were inches away from a third goal as Kerr’s hanging effort from the edge of the area was clawed on to the woodwork by Juventus’s former Arsenal goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-magnin.
Montemurro said the defeat would serve as a “massive learning curve”, but he was proudest of the turnout in Turin. “To have everyone here, it’s one of the most beautiful nights of my career and I’ll never forget it,” he said.