Kaptein strike gives Chelsea opening Champions League victory over Austria Vienna
Wieke Kaptein scored an early goal as Chelsea defeated Austria Vienna at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on 23 September 2026, giving the Blues a winning start to their Champions League campaign. Chelsea held on despite a persistent Austria Vienna threat for much of the evening.
The match was billed as a David v Goliath encounter and the financial gulf between the clubs was highlighted in the build-up: the Austrian broadcaster ORF reported that “Chelsea Women’s personnel costs alone for the 2024-25 season, at a cool €17m, were higher than those of the entire Austria club (€14.9m) – including the men’s department, by far the largest item.” Uefa, meanwhile, noted that the manager, Stefan Kenesei, has a full-time job in state pensions insurance. Manager Sonia Bompastor made three changes from the side that beat Birmingham on Saturday, replacing Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze and Lexi Potter with Livia Peng, Katie McCabe and Melvine Malard as she appeared to pick a cautious XI ahead of a huge league game against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The decisive moment arrived after 11 minutes when Katharina Schiechtl’s sliding tackle dispossessed Melvine Malard and Kaptein was quickest to the loose ball; the 21-year-old sent a rising strike in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards out to put Chelsea in front.
Austria Vienna responded immediately, forcing a corner, and went closer on several occasions before half-time. Modesta Uka forced a save from Peng and Virginia Kirchberger fired the parried effort over the bar, while Louise Schöffel drove a narrow effort wide.
The travelling supporters were vocal throughout, at times audible over the home crowd, and Uka emerged as Austria Vienna’s brightest outlet; her close control posed an attacking threat and provided relief for teammates. Set pieces drew attention and produced some scrappy moments in Chelsea’s penalty area as the visitors probed for an equaliser.
Chelsea threatened a second on the counter after two quick Austria Vienna corners when Kaptein met Ellie Carpenter’s pull-back and forced a save from Jasmin Pal, and Uka continued to test Peng. Just shy of the 70th minute pressure from Uka led to an error from Veerle Buurman and Katie McCabe appeared to clip the Austria Vienna player, but the brief pause after the ball went out did not result in a video assistant referee intervention.
Tensions rose late when Almedina Sisic re-entered the field without waiting a minute after receiving treatment, prompting a heated response on the Chelsea bench; Bompastor had to restrain assistant Camille Abily before confronting the fourth official. Austria Vienna will leave London disappointed not to have taken anything from a game in which they created multiple opportunities, while Chelsea must address those defensive lapses ahead of their league meeting with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.