Chelsea can't compete as Barcelona win Champions League

Chelsea's Champions League dreams came crashing down under the lights in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday, with a dominant Barcelona Women take a 4-0 lead in less than 40 minutes to take the European title.

Chelsea's Ji So-yun heads the ball in the Champions League final against Barcelona at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Chelsea's Champions League dreams came crashing down under the lights in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday, with a dominant Barcelona Women taking a 4-0 lead in less than 40 minutes to take the European title.

Chelsea's woes started 30 seconds into the game, when a Barcelona shot hit the bar and the following clearance bounced off a Chelsea back and straight into the net. Chelsea went down 1-0 with an own goal in less than a minute, and the damage was done.

Barcelona followed with goals in the 13th, 20th and 36th minutes to cement their victory while Chelsea, who won the Super League last week, had no reply. The Spanish side was so dominant that in the second half they began to rotate their lineup, resting players for their upcoming domestic fixtures as if the Champions League final was just another normal game.

Chelsea are the first English club to reach the Champions League final since 2007. Their defeat might hurt, but the fact that the team reached the final at all is good news for the club moving forward.

Star Korean midfielder Ji So-yun played 73 minutes, leaving the game halfway through the second half.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]