Ajax 0-3 Chelsea: Player ratings as Blues take control of Champions League quarter-final

Chelsea took control of their Champions League quarter-final tie with an impressive 3-0 victory over Ajax at Johan Cruyff Arena.

Lauren James opened the scoring early on and Chelsea never looked back, with Sjoeke Nusken netting either side of half-time to secure what ended up being a comfortable win.

Guro Reiten also saw a goal ruled out for offside in a performance which will fill Chelsea with confidence ahead of the return leg.

How the game unfolded

Ajax came out with energy and had the first real sight of goal just six minutes in when Ajax's all-time top scorer Romee Leuchter struck the post with a smart strike from the edge of the box. Blues stopper Hannah Hampton was beaten.

With Chelsea struggling to get a grip on the game, up stepped James to help out once again. The superstar forward rounded Regina van Eijk and tapped into an empty net which, after the offside flag was initially raised, was eventually allowed to stand after a VAR check.

Hampton had a handful of nervy moments with the ball at her feet and was relieved not to get caught out by Lily Yohannes. The teenage midfielder, who picked up a yellow card which will see her suspended for the return fixture, couldn't control her effort and skied well over the frame of the goal.

Sjoeke Nusken should have done better with a header towards the end of the first half. Eve Perisset's free kick found her unmarked in the Ajax box but Nusken failed to keep her effort on target.

With five minutes until the break, Reiten thought she had doubled Chelsea's advantage. James' whipped cross was mis-hit by the winger, who made no mistake at the second time of asking when the ball dropped fortunately at her feet, but a lengthy VAR check ultimately decided the offside Nusken was interfering with play.

Almost immediately after, however, Reiten and Nusken combined for a perfectly good goal. Reiten drilled in a low cross and the German managed to poke the ball beyond Van Eijk to hand Chelsea a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Nusken sent an effort soaring over the bar on the hour mark, before both James and Erin Cuthbert saw long-range strikes comfortably saved.

Chelsea missed another great chance when Cuthbert sent Reiten's cross flying over the bar, but the third goal finally came late on when Nusken rose highest to head home Catarina Macario's cross to give the Blues an imposing lead heading into the second leg.

Chelsea player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Hannah Hampton - 5/10 - Not particularly busy with her hands but Hampton had a handful of shaky moments with the ball at her feet.

RB: Eve Perisset - 7/10 - Defensively solid and active in attack. Played in some delicious crosses.

CB: Jess Carter - 7/10 - Really vocal at the back. Could be heard barking orders to those around her to keep Chelsea organised.

CB: Kadeisha Buchanan - 8/10 - Active against Ajax's lively forwards. Pulled out some sensational passes to help Chelsea turn defence into attack.

LB: Niamh Charles - 6/10 - Wasn't as involved as she would have liked but didn't exactly get much wrong. Marshalled her wing well.

CM: Melanie Leupolz - 7/10 - The deepest of Chelsea's midfielders, Leupolz wasn't particularly involved going forwards but instead offered a reliable screen in front of the defence.

CM: Erin Cuthbert - 8/10 - Buzzed around with her typical energy to keep Chelsea on top of the midfield battle. Happy to drop back to do the dirty work before sprinting forward to join the attack.

CM: Sjoeke Nusken - 9/10 - Fresh off silencing Arsenal, Nusken enjoyed another top performance. A monster in attack and could have easily had more than the two goals.

RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd - 7/10 - Most of Chelsea's best work came down the opposite wing, but Kaneryd still provided several moments of real quality.

ST: Lauren James - 8/10 - Typically unplayable in both a central role and when drifting out wide. Took her goal well and was unfortunate not to pick up an assist for Reiten's disallowed effort.

LW: Guro Reiten - 8/10 - Did her usual Reiten things. A creative force out wide and active in the box.

Substitutes

SUB: Ashley Lawrence (74' for Kaneryd) - 7/10

SUB: Catarina Macario (74' for James) - 7/10

SUB: Jelena Cankovic (84' for Cuthbert) - N/A

SUB: Aggie Beever-Jones (87' for Charles) - N/A

SUB: Sophie Ingle (87' for Leupolz) - N/A

Subs not used: Zecira Musovic (GK), Katie Cox (GK), Fran Kirby

Manager

Emma Hayes - 8/10 - After riding their luck early on, Chelsea quickly took control of this tie. Built the midfield balance perfectly and the substitutes helped put the Blues back on top when Ajax were threatening to get back into the game.

Player of the match - Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea)