Chelsea were given a stern test by Austria Vienna as they began their Women's Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Plough Lane on Wednesday.

There was an expectation that Sonia Bompastor's team would steamroll the Austrian side making their first-ever appearance in the competition proper, but this was a far tighter, far more competitive match-up than had been anticipated.

Wieke Kaptein scored after 11 minutes, a lovely effort that skimmed the underside of the bar on its way in, and at that stage it looked as thought the floodgates would soon open.

But Vienna dug in, not only holding off their far more expensively assembled opponents but taking the game to them and leaving the hosts relieved to escape with a victory, particularly after Kosovan forward Modesta Uka had struck the post late on.

A small but vocal cluster of visiting supporters had come to west London to enjoy themselves regardless of the outcome, playfully serenading the home side with "champions of Austria, you'll never sing that," but for Chelsea this was a nervy 90 minutes.

They had gone ahead in spectacular style early on. Sandy Baltimore's run was ended by a well-timed sliding tackle and the ball span loose. Collecting it 25 yards from goal was Kaptein, and after taking a touch she hammered it in off the bar.

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Ellie Carpenter spurned a golden chance to make it two when she scuffed a shot wide of the near post, then Alyssa Thompson's powerful run down the right ended with her slamming an effort across goal and wide.

Keira Walsh was forced off injured after 20 minutes, a potential blow for Chelsea ahead of Sunday's WSL game at home to Arsenal.

The home side were living dangerously when goalkeeper Livia Peng fumbled a shot from a short corner routine, palming the ball back out into danger from where Virginia Kirchberger hoisted it over the bar whilst off balance, sparing Peng her blushes.

It was becoming clear that this would not be as straightforward a task as had been predicted. There was almost a sublime equaliser when Louise Schöffel danced her way through Chelsea's defence and hit a low shot that flashed inches wide of the post.

Sjoeke Nüsken should have settled the match and her manager's nerves with a free hit 10 yards out that she wastefully thumped into the supporters behind the goal from Carpenter's cross.

Chelsea's number looked to be up when Uka went through and hit the post, but they clung on for a nervy win.