Two goals behind at kick-off, Chelsea had to deliver. We did so in 45 breathtaking minutes to flip the tie on its head. Sandy Baltimore netted our first of the evening – a thunderous drive into the far corner after Lucy Bronze had struck the post.

Nathalie Bjorn, having twice come close, then headed the Blues level in the tie. And we were ahead two minutes before the interval as Lauren James teed up Mayra Ramirez.

The second period was a showcase of Chelsea's other qualities. City were restricted to hopeful efforts from distance – there was to be no comeback from the visitors. The job was done by the Blues. Barcelona await in the last four.

A statement of intent

Bompastor made five changes to the side that began our WSL win over City on Sunday. Bjorn, Baltimore, Erin Cuthbert, Keira Walsh and Ramirez returned to the side. Ashley Lawrence, Niamh Charles, Oriane Jean-Francois, Maika Hamano and Aggie Beever-Jones dropped to the bench.

The Blues needed to start strongly. We did just that and created an opportunity inside the opening three minutes.

It was fashioned by James, who won back possession in City's defensive third, surged forward, and then fired the ball toward the far post. Visiting goalkeeper Khiara Keating reacted well to save, but the tone was set. Chelsea were on a mission.

Chances were created at a rapid rate. Ramirez first came close with an attempt following a now-trademark powerful run beyond two City defenders; James saw an effort deflected behind for a corner after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had broken behind the visitors' backline.

From the resultant corner, which was swung in expertly by Baltimore, Bjorn guided a near-post header against the post. A goal felt inevitable.

And with 14 minutes on the clock, it arrived. Lucy Bronze, a five-time Champions League winner, displayed her undoubted quality as she exchanged passes with Ramirez and guided an outside-of-the-boot shot against the post. The rebound fell to Baltimore, who drilled her shot into the corner.

There was no let-up from the Blues, and Keating had to produce another smart save to deny Walsh and stop us levelling the tie on aggregate.

City had offered little threat in the early exchanges, but a moment of quality from Mary Fowler almost restored their two-goal lead. She fashioned space on the edge to shoot and her effort was destined for the corner. However, Hannah Hampton produced a full-length dive to push the ball wide. It was a fine stop.

After a spell of City pressure, the Blues were back on the attack and Ramirez was unfortunately unable to guide a header on target from close range. Cuthbert then went down under pressure in the penalty area after a burst forward, but our appeals were waved away by referee Catarina Campos.

Piling on pressure

Our threat from set-pieces was consistent throughout the evening and, for the second time, Bjorn came inches away from scoring with a header from a Baltimore corner. On this occasion, Vivianne Miedema was on the line to clear.

Keating was next to deny the Blues as she did well to scramble back and turn an over-hit Baltimore cross, that would've nestled in the far corner, behind. The City goalkeeper then did well from the following short corner to save a close-range attempt from Cuthbert.

But, eventually, Chelsea found a way through. It came from yet another corner from Baltimore, who again found the head of Bjorn and she powered the ball beyond Keating. The tie was level, but not for long.

Five minutes after Bjorn's goal, we established our lead in the tie. James was the architect as she intercepted a loose pass in the City third, got to the byline and cut the ball back for Ramirez, who swept it into the corner. A roar echoed around Stamford Bridge. A place in the semi-finals was now in our hands.

Things almost got even better for the Blues before the interval as, after Hampton had saved an effort from Fowler, Ramirez chased down a pass, brushed aside Aleixandri, and fired toward goal from close range. Unfortunately, Keating read the Colombian's attempt and saved.

A breathtaking half was then brought to an end.

Restricting City

With a lead established, the Blues began the second period in composed fashion. Our possession was controlled and City were restricted. The minutes started to tick down.

Our threat remained, although not via the same cavalier approach. Keating produced another good stop to deny a shot from the edge of the box by Rytting Kaneryd, and the City goalkeeper then got down well to deny Cuthbert after the Blues midfielder had evaded several challenges.

With 20 minutes to play, Bompastor made her first change. Ramirez, who had covered a huge amount of ground, was replaced by Beever-Jones.

The onus was very much now on City to force the issue, and Miedema did whip a shot narrowly beyond Hampton's far post. It was a reminder that the tie was not over.

Another Chelsea goal would, however, almost certainly have put the tie to bed, and after Keating had again denied Rytting Kaneryd, she was beaten by a fierce 20-yard attempt from Cuthbert. The crossbar came to City's aid.

As full-time approached, City created one last chance. Kerolin managed to get a rare shot on the Chelsea goal, but Hampton got down to save and hold the ball. It proved the only scare of the dying minutes.

The full-time whistle was met by an outpouring of emotion from those in blue. Bright and Bjorn yelled into the night sky as Cuthbert raised her arms aloft. The comeback was complete. Our Champions League dream remains alive.

What it means...

The Blues advance into the semi-finals of the Champions League, where we will, once again, take on Barcelona over two legs.

What comes next

There's a quick turnaround for the Blues as we return to Women's Super League action on Sunday. We welcome West Ham United to Kingsmeadow.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton; Bronze, Bjorn, Bright (c), Baltimore; Cuthbert, Walsh (Jean-Francois 90+2); Rytting Kaneryd, Kaptein, James; Ramirez (Beever-Jones 71)
Chelsea substitutes: Spencer, Cox, Lawrence, Charles, Nusken, Macario, Hamano, Brown
Scorers: Baltimore 14, Bjorn 38, Ramirez 43
Booked: Baltimore 55, Walsh 90+2

Man City: Keating; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (c), Ouahabi; Roord (Park 65), Hasegawa (Layzell 85), Miedema; Kerolin, Fowler, Murphy (Coombs 45)
Man City substitutes: Startup, Wienroither
Scorers:
Booked: Aleixandri 47

Referee: Catarina Campos