# Kaptein's magic gives Chelsea narrow WCL win

> Chelsea beat Austria Vienna 1-0 in their Champions League opener, but the performance raised concerns about their ability to handle underdogs.
- Title: Kaptein's magic gives Chelsea narrow WCL win · the Guardian
- Summary: Chelsea beat Austria Vienna 1-0 in their Champions League opener, but the performance raised concerns about their ability to handle underdogs. Chelsea won…
- Keywords: chelsea women, austria vienna women, women's champions league, wieke kaptein, sonia bompastor, modesta uka, match report, league phase, women's football, sports, Kaptein's, magic
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/23/chelsea-austria-vienna-womens-champions-league-match-report
- Published: 2026-09-23T21:12:40+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: chelsea women, austria vienna women, women's champions league, wieke kaptein, sonia bompastor, modesta uka, match report, league phase, women's football, sports
## Chelsea opens with narrow victory
Wieke Kaptein's 11th-minute strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Austria Vienna in their Women's Champions League league phase opener at Stamford Bridge.
## Kaptein strikes from distance
The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder collected a loose ball after a sliding tackle and sent a rising strike from 25 yards in off the underside of the bar.
## Bompastor unhappy with performance
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said the team failed to control the game and should have scored a second goal to kill off Austria Vienna's hopes.

> We could have controlled the game a little bit better in terms of scoring a second goal to kill the opposition's hope
## Massive financial gap between teams
Chelsea's personnel costs alone for 2024-25 were 17 million euros, higher than Austria Vienna's entire budget of 14.9 million euros including their men's department.
## Austria Vienna manager has day job
Stefan Kenesei, Austria Vienna's manager, works full-time in state pensions insurance, highlighting the gulf between elite and lower-ranked European clubs.
## Underdogs proved competitive threat
Austria Vienna matched Chelsea's intensity throughout and created chances, proving that lower-ranked teams can compete effectively in the Champions League.

> The physicality from those teams is good. The players are able to match the intensity of the Champions League games from the beginning of the game until the end
## Modesta Uka was Austria's bright spot
The Kosovan forward's close control and movement created problems for Chelsea throughout. Uka scored five goals in Austria Vienna's qualifying campaign to earn their place in the league phase.

> She's a great player and she deserves to play at this level, just as the whole team does
## VAR controversy near the end
With 10 minutes left, Uka's pressure forced an error from Veerle Buurman, but the video assistant referee did not intervene despite a potential foul by Katie McCabe.
## Austria Vienna left disappointed
Manager Stefan Kenesei said his team performed at almost the same level as Chelsea and was disappointed not to take at least one point from the match.

> We were brave as we'd planned, really, but to be honest I'm also disappointed that we didn't get at least one point
## Chelsea must tighten up defensively
Despite the win, Chelsea allowed Austria Vienna multiple chances and must improve before facing stronger opponents who will punish such lapses.
## Walsh injury adds to concerns
Keira Walsh was withdrawn early as a precaution with a quad issue, adding to Chelsea's worries heading into their next league phase match against Lyon.
## Key takeaway

Chelsea won but struggled to control the game, highlighting how well-prepared lower-ranked teams can compete in Europe's elite club competition.