Wolfsburg 1-2 Chelsea : Bronze and Kerr goals secure quarter-final spot in WCL

Chelsea Women have secured a quarter-final spot in the Women's Champions League after they came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in their final league phase game, finishing third in the table.

It will see the Blues avoid a play-off in mid-February, allowing an ease in their busy fixture schedule. They will find out their potential opponents in the final eight when the draw for the knockout rounds is made on Thursday (12pm).

Chelsea began the evening in third too, but their spot in the top four - which ensured a direct entry into the quarters - was under threat early on as Wolfsburg capitalised on a dominant spell.

Livia Peng's attempted clearance was tapped into Alexandra Popp's path. She turned past Keira Walsh before sending a low, hard shot past the goalkeeper.

Both sides continued to trade blows, although Wolfsburg had the better openings. Lucy Bronze twice kept Chelsea in the game with her defending too - she cleared Lineth Beerensteyn's effort off the line before a well-timed tackle inside the box kept Kessya Bussy from striking.

Then, moments later, she equalised at the other end, nodding home Erin Cuthbert's corner just before half-time.

Chelsea had more control after the break, and pushed for the winner from the restart, with Alyssa Thompson hitting the post before Cuthbert was denied by Stina Johannes.

Sam Kerr made sure of the three points in the 64th minute. She was unmarked at the near post to nod home a cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd, scoring her 20th Champions League goal for Chelsea.

Wolfsburg did not make it an easy finish either. In five minutes of added time, Janou Levels smashed an effort onto the top of the crossbar with Peng beaten, but they could not find the equaliser they wanted.

The result still sees Wolfsburg into the knockout rounds, but they finish in ninth by a point. It means they will be unseeded for Thursday's draw, and they will face either Real Madrid or Juventus.