Wieke Kaptein's early goal gave Chelsea a winning start to their Champions League campaign against Austria Vienna, but it was a far from comfortable evening for the Blues. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder scored a rising strike in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards out, after a slick sliding tackle from Katharina Schiechtl dispossessed Melvine Malard. The goal gave Chelsea the breathing space of an early lead 11 minutes in.
Austria Vienna instantly went in search of a reply, forcing a corner which came to nothing. They went far closer twice before the break, with Modesta Uka forcing a save from Livia Peng and Virginia Kirchberger firing the parried ball over the bar. The small block of travelling fans appreciated the efforts of the underdogs, drowning out the home crowd for much of the match.
Chelsea went close to a second on the break after two corners in quick succession for Austria Vienna, but the Blues were unable to build on their lead. The longer it went without Chelsea building on their lead, the more confident the players in white became. In the end, it is a testament to the visiting team that will leave London extremely disappointed to have not taken anything from a game that gave them opportunity after opportunity to do so.