FC Twente Women secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Women's Champions League group stage on Tuesday, a result that stunned the English champions. The Dutch side, who lost 9-2 on aggregate to Chelsea last season, took the lead through a stunning strike from Wieke Kaptein before Sandy Baltimore equalised from the penalty spot for the visitors.
Twente's game plan was clear: defend resolutely and hit on the counter-attack. They executed it perfectly, frustrating Chelsea for much of the match. The hosts took a deserved lead in the 61st minute when Jill Roord set up Kaptein, who lashed a drive into the top-right corner from the edge of the area. Chelsea struggled to create clear chances until the 70th minute, when Guro Reiten was tripped inside the box by Marisa Groenewegen. Baltimore stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty past goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor made several changes to her starting XI, a decision that drew scrutiny after the performance. The WSL champions pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Sam Kerr and 16-year-old Chloe Sarwie introduced, but Twente held firm. The hosts celebrated the point as a significant achievement, with players embracing at the final whistle.
The result leaves Chelsea with work to do in Group D, while Twente will take confidence from their display. The Dutch side showed they are no longer the pushovers they were last season, when they conceded nine goals in two matches against Chelsea.
