Chelsea dominated debutants Ajax, winning 3-0, while Lyon won 2-1 against Benfica in the first-leg quarter-final matches of the women’s Champions League on Tuesday.
Lauren James scored first for Chelsea in their away win over Ajax, calmly rounding the goalkeeper to slot into the empty net.
Germany midfielder Sjoeke Nusken then scored a goal in each half, putting Chelsea in complete control before the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes described her team’s performance as “really professional”.
“We defended solidly, attacked the spaces down the sides, and got good opportunities: four crosses, two goals in the first half.
(Kadeisha) Buchanan and Nusken had outstanding performances, and the team as a whole was confident and delighted to get the third goal.”
Hayes added: “Once the game settled down, we controlled it, I was happy but it’s still only half-time,” with the second leg still to come.
In Lisbon, Andreia Faria scored her first Champions League goal to give Benfica the lead against Lyon, the most successful club in the women’s competition.
But Lyon's pressure in the second half paid off, with Delphine Cascarino and Sara Dabritz each scoring to take control of the two-leg tie.
Wednesday will see the remaining two quarter-finals with defending champions Barcelona traveling to Brann in Norway, while Paris Saint-Germain are on the road to Hacken in Sweden.
