Chelsea hold off Ajax to reach Champions League semi-finals

Chelsea reached the Champions League semi-finals for the fifth time in their history after a 1-1 draw with Ajax at Stamford Bridge secured a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory.

The Blues entered the evening already 3-0 ahead from their first-leg victory in Amsterdam and further eased any tension when Mayra Ramirez netted her first Champions League goal to open the scoring after 33 minutes in west London.

It came after a nervy start for the hosts, who narrowly avoided conceding from a first-half mishap before Chasity Grant drew Ajax level with one of few chances after the break.

Chelsea will face the winners of the last-eight clash between holders Barcelona and Norwegian side Brann, who play their quarter-final second leg tomorrow night.

Eight-time winners Lyon crushed Benfica 4-1 to advance 6-2 on aggregate.

Delphine Cascarino opened the scoring for the hosts in the 43rd minute with a fine chip but Marie Alidou hit back in injury-time.

The French side were on top after the break though as Cascarino added an even more impressive long-distance strike and Kadidiatou Diani and Catarina Amado scored in injury-time.

Lyon will face the winners of Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden's BK Häcken. PSG lead 2-1 from the first leg.