24-goal hero Oshoala helps Barcelona plant one foot in UWC final with win at Chelsea

The Super Falcons forward came off the bench to help the 2021 European champions claim a first-leg advantage over the Londoners

Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala was a second-half substitute as Futbol Club Barcelona Femení defeated Chelsea Ladies 1-0 away from home in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

In the early lunchtime kickoff, Barcelona’s Caroline Hansen broke the deadlock after just four minutes, and it was all the Spanish champions needed to secure a fine win.

Only returning from a spell on the treatment table, Oshoala was named on the substitute bench for the encounter and was only introduced in the 84th minute.

The Super Falcons star did her bit to help the visitors defend their lead as Chelsea grew desperate in the closing stages.

The two sides will face each other again on Thursday, April 27, at the Spotify Camp Nou, where Barcelona must avoid a loss to advance to the final of the competition for the third consecutive year.

Barcelona were runners-up last year after losing 3-1 in the final to French giants Olympique Lyonnais.

In 2021, though, Asisat Oshoala made history as the first African to win the competition
when she helped Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 at the Gamla Ullevi in Göteborg.

Despite Oshoala’s bit-part role on Saturday, she remains Barcelona’s top goalscorer across all competitions this term with 24 goals.

The Nigerian international has a club-high 19 league goals to help Barca Femeni enjoy a 13-point lead at the top of the table. Only Levante’s Alba Redondo has netted more in the division.

Oshoala has also added another five goals in the Champions League.