Real Madrid vs Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as Blues draw in Spain
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea: Emma Hayes’ team kicked off their European campaign with a draw against the Spanish heavyweights
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea opened their Women’s Champions League campaign with a draw against Real Madrid in a contest they will believe should have been won. The Blues started as the more aggressive side but went behind in the 10th minute as Olga Carmona’s deflected effort beat Ann-Katrin Berger with the hosts’ first shot of the game.
Emma Hayes’ side responded beautifully. The upped the tempo, controlled possession and equalised just before the break through Niamh Charles’ header. As the second half began Real Madrid played higher up the pitch and occassionally piled the pressure on Chelsea’s defence.
The next breakthrough came at the other end of the pitch though as Charles lofted a cross into the box for Sam Kerr to bullet head into the back of the net. Minutes later, Athenea del Castillo was brought down by Jessie Fleming and dove into the box convincing the referee to award a penalty which Carmona smoked home to make it 2-2.
A final touch of drama arrived in the last minute of stoppage time as Charles swept the ball into the net only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Relive the action from the Women’s Champions League plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
82 mins: There’s just been a replay of the penalty decision and it’s a harsh one for Chelsea.
There is contact but it comes outside the box and Del Castillo throws herself forward to trick the referee. It worked but Emma Hayes won’t be pleased with that decision after the game.
Into the final 10 minutes now. Is there time for one of these teams to win this one?
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
85 mins: Save! The ball bounces up kindly for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd on the edge of the Real Madrid box. She puts her laces through a shot and forces a leaping save out of Misa Rodriguez who pushes the ball wide of the post.
Massive save right there.
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
88 mins: Chance! Lauren James cuts inside from the left and whips a shot at goal. She strikes the crossbar and the ball drops down to Jessie Fleming.
Fleming should score but she pushes her shot wide of the far post!
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
90 mins: There’s going to be four minutes of added time to play at the end of this match. Will there be a winning goal?
Full-time! Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
90+5 mins: Oh my! A long cross into the box from the right picks out Niamh Charles with Sam Kerr ahead of her. There may be a push on a defender from Kerr before Charles scoops the ball into the back of the net.
Charles thinks she’s won it with the last kick of the game but the offside flag goes up. There’s no VAR so the goal is ruled out. Chelsea have seemingly been done again with that one.
In the end, it’s a draw in Spain. Chelsea came here in the Champions League group stages last season and cam away with a point.
They’ve done the same tonight and can feel more than slightly aggrieved about that.
Chelsea controversially held by Real Madrid in Champions League opener
Chelsea had to settle for a point in their Champions League opener as Olga Carmona’s penalty saw Emma Hayes’ side held 2-2 at Real Madrid.
After Carmona put Real ahead in the 10th minute, the Blues turned things around via two headers either side of the break, Niamh Charles equalising and then setting up Sam Kerr.
But moments later Carmona – scorer of Spain’s winner against England in the summer’s World Cup final – converted from the spot after Jessie Fleming was judged to have fouled Athenea del Castillo in the box.
Chelsea substitute Lauren James rattled the crossbar before Charles controversially had an effort ruled out in stoppage time as the visitors were unable to secure a winning start to their final Champions League campaign before Hayes leaves at the end of the season and becomes United States head coach.
Chelsea controversially held by Real Madrid in Champions League opener
Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea: The Blues had a goal disallowed deep into stoppage time after Real had equalised with a disputed penalty.
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