Katie McCabe’s Chelsea survive Austria Vienna scare in Champions League opener

Chelsea made to sweat by first-time visitors

Wieke Kaptein scored in the 11th minute, driving a shot from 25 yards off the underside of the bar and in.

On the other end, Walsh was forced off with an injury after 20 minutes against Austria Vienna, leaving her fitness in question for Chelsea's Women's Super League game against Arsenal on Sunday.

Katie McCabe and Chelsea needed all of their nerve to protect a first-half lead and beat Austria Vienna 1-0 in their Women's Champions League opener.

Chelsea began their Women's Champions League campaign with a win over Austria Vienna at Plough Lane on Wednesday night, though it came far harder than expected.

Katie McCabe started for Sonia Bompastor's side against opponents making their first appearance in the competition proper.

Wieke Kaptein settled the contest early. Her strike arrived in the 11th minute, hammered in off the underside of the bar after Sandy Baltimore's driving run was cut short by a sliding challenge.

Chelsea looked set to pull clear from there, but Ellie Carpenter and Alyssa Thompson both passed up good chances to extend the lead.

Chelsea's discomfort grew when goalkeeper Livia Peng fumbled a shot at a short corner, leaving Virginia Kirchberger to hoist the loose ball over an open goal.

Louise Schoffel then carved open the defence and flashed a shot narrowly wide.

Modesta Uka struck the post late on, and Sjoeke Nusken spurned a clear chance from ten yards soon after.

Travelling Austria Vienna supporters, well aware of the fright they had given the hosts, serenaded the home end with "champions of Austria, you'll never sing that," RTÉ reported.

It has been a good week for Irish sport more widely: Shane Lowry went from Doonbeg to Adare Manor to Wentworth in three days.

That form followed Shane Lowry wins the Amgen Irish Open by a record 11 shots at Doonbeg.