Barcelona Women of all ages 1-1 Chelsea Gals (agg 2-1): Caroline Graham Hansen strikes Again to deliver Spanish facet through to Champions League closing… with Guro Reiten netting a late consolation for Emma Hayes’ side
Caroline Graham Hansen place Barcelona in command with strike in 63rd minuteGuro Reiten gave Chelsea a lifeline by scoring in the 67th minute on WednesdayMore than 70,000 enthusiasts watched the semi-ultimate next leg at the Nou Camp
As Chelsea’s players dropped to their knees at the comprehensive-time whistle, there was small a lot more they could have done.
Emma Hayes’ players gave every thing they experienced against arguably the most effective staff in women’s club football. It was not adequate, but there is no disgrace in that.
That Chelsea stayed in this semi-last tie until eventually the last whistle went in the second leg is spectacular in itself.
This is a group that was devoid of Millie Dazzling and Fran Kirby and a 50 %-fit Pernille More challenging, who could only play 15 minutes in every single leg.
To shed out by just one intention – with a 2-1 defeat on mixture – displays they are not considerably away. As Hayes had predicted, they experienced for substantial sections of the second leg at the Nou Camp.
Caroline Graham Hansen set Barcelona in command with a medical strike in 63rd moment
Aitana Bonmati threaded the ball via for Graham Hansen to slot the ball property
But they held their possess and were deserving of their 1-1 attract. It was not adequate but Hayes’ gamers can have delight in their efforts.
Barca are 10 points obvious in the Spanish league with 105 aims and just 5 conceded.
This end result shows Chelsea have progressed from the 4- thrashing they suffered at the hands of the Catalans in the 2021 closing.
Barca, basically, are just much too very good. That Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was an unused substitute spoke volumes.
Putellas was again in the squad for the initial time because suffering an ACL damage previous summer months but she was not required here.
Caroline Graham Hansen was the star of both equally legs and the scorer of equally Barca aims.
The winger imagined she had provided her side the direct at the Nou Camp in the eighth moment but her strike was rightly ruled out for offside.
Barca, unsurprisingly, dominated possession but Chelsea’s defence held company and managed to end the Catalans possessing a shot on goal in the 1st fifty percent.
The Blues’ resistance, having said that, arrived to an stop just earlier the hour mark as Graham Hansen after again located the web.
Aitana Bonmati drove at the Chelsea defence prior to threading the ball by way of to her workforce-mate to finish as a result of the legs of Ann-Katrin Berger.
But just as the tie appeared out of their arrive at, Chelsea identified them selves again in it as Reiten levelled the scores on the evening 4 minutes afterwards.
Guro Reiten gave Chelsea a lifeline by scoring in the 67th minute on Wednesday evening
Barcelona’s Graham Hansen experienced a initial-50 percent hard work ruled out for handball in the build-up
Extra than 70,000 enthusiasts viewed the Champions League semi-remaining second leg at the Nou Camp
Erin Cuthbert received the ball back again from Mariona Caldentey and Melanie Leupolz lifted a go around to Sam Kerr. Her contact was significant and Sandra Panos rushed out to force the ball out, but it dropped kindly for Reiten to finish into an empty web.
The group of 72,626 – the third greatest attendance in the competition’s history- was briefly silenced for the to start with time of the night time.
Hayes understood there would come a time when she would have to consider a lot more dangers and on arrived Lauren James and Pernille More challenging with 15 minutes to go.
But Barca managed to destroy Chelsea’s momentum as various gamers fell to the ground to waste time. The Blues, although, did not clearly show plenty of in the final 3rd. A lengthy-variety shot from James which flew over the bar summed up their disappointment.
