Olga Carmona’s controversial penalty and a disallowed objective for Niamh Charles noticed Chelsea denied a deserved opening-game Girls’s Champions League win in a 2-2 draw at Actual Madrid.
Carmona’s equaliser 11 minutes from time got here after Athenea del Castillo was fouled by Jessie Fleming – although the offending contact clearly occurred outdoors the field.
With out VAR out there, Frida Klarlund’s on-field determination was left to face, to disclaim the Blues of a much-deserved win within the Spanish capital.
Their disappointment was additional added to with virtually the final kick of the sport when Charles noticed what would have been her second objective of the evening and the winner dominated out by a raised flag for causes which have been nonetheless unclear by the full-time whistle.
The Blues fell behind early on to Carmona’s deflected strike after 10 minutes however dominated from then-on on the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Sam Kerr examined Misa Rodriguez earlier than Charles’ highly effective header pulled the Blues degree on the stroke of half-time.
They continued to take the sport to their hosts after the break however took till the seventy fifth minute to lastly discover a means by means of, when Charles’ inviting cross was nodded house by Kerr.
Olga Carmona scored in each halves for Actual Madrid
Their lead solely lasted 4 minutes earlier than Fleming’s clumsy foul was given a harsher punishment than it deserved when Klarlund pointed to the spot, and Carmona doubled her tally for the evening.
There was nonetheless extra drama to comply with, when Charles thought she had discovered a last-gasp winner from Ashley Lawrence’s cross till the assistant referee dominated out her effort with a raised flag.
She was clearly onside on the time – and although Kerr was forward of the final defender, she made no real looking try to play the ball on its means by means of the field, leaving an added bitter style within the mouths of the Blues that they didn’t kick off their event with three factors.
Emma Hayes confirmed her frustration on the late name to disclaim Charles’ profitable objective
How Chelsea did every part however win in Madrid
The tone was set within the opening minutes within the Spanish capital with Emma Hayes’ facet controlling the sport from the off, just for their early dominance to be punctuated by Carmona’s opener.
Her 20-yard effort appeared comfy sufficient for Ann-Katrin Berger till a big nick off Millie Vivid wrong-footed her and deflected the ball into the other nook.
Niamh Charles’ objective was her first in European soccer
Chelsea continued unabated, however lacked a innovative and had solely Kerr’s rising drive from the angle to point out for his or her territory till the stroke of half-time.
Then, Lawrence’s inviting cross from deep was met by a booming Charles header again throughout objective, and deservedly pulled the Blues degree on the interval.
Little modified after the break, with the primary main poor determination of the evening almost costing the hosts. Jess Carter’s lengthy ball discovered Kerr on the shoulder of the house defence and marginally offside. The flag stayed down however justice was completed on the pitch, as Rodriguez saved out her effort at her close to submit with a sprawling cease.
There was no doubting Kerr when she did lastly beat the house goalkeeper quarter-hour from time, with Charles’ hanging cross begging to be met. The Australia ahead bullied her means by means of earlier than beating Rodriguez with a bullet header to place Chelsea forward for the primary time.
Sam Kerr (proper) had headed Chelsea 2-1 forward earlier than Actual Madrid levelled with a controversial penalty
The lead could be short-lived, however solely by means of a second of actual controversy. There was little argument Fleming caught Del Castillo with a late problem deep inside her personal half moments later, however Klarlund’s name that it was initiated contained in the Chelsea field was a transparent error from the referee.
Chelsea had little to protest towards with out VAR out there, and it left Carmona to step up and energy house an equaliser regardless of Berger getting a hand to her spot kick.
Even nonetheless, the Blues may have left Madrid with three factors. Substitute Lauren James’ effort crashed towards the crossbar earlier than Fleming turned the rebound inexplicably huge with Rodriguez out of motion.
However Charles’ late strike would rankle much more. The defender buried Lawrence’s cross on the far submit within the sixth minute of added time and wheeled away to rejoice earlier than recognizing the assistant’s flag.
The defender was clearly onside on the time of the supply with Kerr maybe the responsible social gathering, however even the Australian’s affect on the Actual Madrid defence appeared negligible sufficient to depart the guests confused as to why they weren’t returning to England with a win.
What’s next?
Chelsea now have three house video games earlier than the worldwide break. They’re subsequent in motion on Saturday as they host Liverpool within the WSL at Stamford Bridge.
Their second Champions League group fixture is on Thursday November 23 once they host Paris FC, earlier than host Leicester on Sunday November 26.
