Ajax levelled the score on the night when Chasity Grant’s finish went under the body of Musovic, but the Sweden goalkeeper made a tremendous save from Leuchter later on to halt any prospect of a dramatic late comeback.
Hayes had rested several players, including England star Lauren James, with an eye on Sunday’s League Cup final against Arsenal at Molineux, where Chelsea will bid to clinch the first of that potential quartet of major honours this season.
Match details
Chelsea (4-3-3) Musovic; Perisset, Carter, Buchanan (Nusken, 66), Lawrence; Cuthbert, Ingle, Kirby; Beever-Jones (Rytting Kaneryd, 76), Ramirez (Macario, 66), Reiten (Cankovic, 66).
Subs not used Hampton (gk), Berger (gk), Leupolz, James, Charles. Booked Perisset.
Ajax (4-3-3) Van Eijk; Kardinaal (Verhoeve, 76), Spitse, De Sanders (Tolhoek, 87), De Klonia (Keijzer, 46); N Noordam, Van Goof, Van de Velde (D Noordman, 68); Grant, Leuchter, T Hoekstra (Keukelaar, 68).
Subs not used Nienhuis (gk), Van der Wal (gk), I Hoekstra, Jansen, Sabajo.
Referee Tess Olofsson (Sweden).
