Emma Hayes calls out ‘worst’ ref decision ‘in Women’s Champions League history’ after Barcelona defeat Blues

EMMA HAYES blasted what she known as the “worst choice in Girls’s Champions League historical past” after Chelsea fell to a loss to Barcelona.

Kadeisha Buchanan was given her marching orders within the second half of an intense battle with the Blues dispatched 2-1 on mixture at Stamford Bridge.

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The second-leg defeat – watched by a document 39, 398-stromg crowd on the stadium led to the hosts being knocked out of the competition semis for the second 12 months in a row by Spain’s high -flight leaders.

It ended their goals of lifting a Champions League trophy for the primary and final time beneath Hayes, with the Blues chief taking up as United States’ ladies’s boss this 12 months.

It additionally noticed hopes of a silverware double crushed with the WSL title remaining their solely likelihood of a trophy following semis and ultimate losses within the FA and Conti Cups.

Buchanan was booked twice in 4 minutes by ref Iuliana Demetrescu.

First for a visit on Salma Paralluelo after which following problem on Patri Guijarro with each gamers battling for possession.

Whereas the centre-back bought the ball through the second incident, she was given her marching orders after Guijarro dropped to the turf clutching her foot.

And he or she regarded crestfallen as she headed straight down the tunnel after her 59th-minute second reserving along with her team-mates appeals dismissed by the ref.

The sending off occurred after Barca had taken a first-half 1-0 following Aitana Bonmati’s strike deflecting into objective off Buchanan.

Hayes stated: “That they had a robust first half, the deflected objective places them in place.

“However within the second half I felt we have been simply comiyng on high, and you may see the mix of the group and the gamers have been driving us, the felt actually assured.

“So, while you get such a surprising refereeing choice, there’s nothing you are able to do about it.

“It’s laborious sufficient while you’ve bought 11 however while you’ve bought 10 it’s nearly unimaginable.”

Of the foul that led to Buchanan’s dismissal, Hayes added: “Even the Barcelona gamers stated the referee was useful to them. I didn’t assume it was a foul, not to mention a yellow card.

“Once you lose a sport, for us we didn’t really feel we bought the chance to lose it, that was taken away.

“I used to be stunned after I noticed her chosen, she’s recognized for (giving) straightforward playing cards. That was in all probability the worst choice in UEFA Girls’s Champions League historical past.

Buchanan’s departure was adopted by spot-kick drama with the guests awarded a 74th-minute penalty.

This occurred after Bonmati fell within the field after with a collision with Blues defenders Ashley Lawrence and Jess Carter.

A VAR verify upheld Demetrescu’s choice to award a pen netted by Fridolina Rolfo who despatched keeper Hannah Hampton the unsuitable manner earlier than her backside nook end.

Hayes, who had influential striker Mayra Ramirez absent, stated: “I’m gutted for them [the players], we have been robbed.

“I genuinely imagine we have been on high of the sport, we’d simply hit the submit, we might really feel the momentum getting into that path, however we didn’t get the prospect to expertise that.

All of the speaking is about that. Sure, we misplaced Mayra Ramirez after coaching, that didn’t assist, however you want all the things to go your manner, two yellow playing cards, a deflection and a penalty, all the things went their manner.”

On the sport’s begin the scene was set for what some Chelsea followers would have hoped can be a fairytale Stamford Bridge farewell to Hayes in her final look as Blues boss on the floor

A document crowd of 39,398 flocked to observe the match – the biggest ever for a ladies’s fixture on the floor not to mention a Girls’s Champions League battle.

The opening 20 minutes noticed the rivals vying for management of the ball  earlier than Barcelona gained the higher hand in assault with Aitana Bonmati amongst their iggest threats.

The Girls’s Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring within the twenty fifth minute along with her angled shot following a Keira Walsh’s move deflected into objective.

However relatively than let their heads drop Chelsea, who have been with out influential striker Mayra Ramirez, responded brightly.

They usually had some gilt-edged probabilities to degree.

The gang roared when Melanie Leupolz struck the submit from six yards out within the thirty first minute.

Nevertheless, that effort wouldn’t have counted with Lauren James offside.

And Catarina Macario pressured a nook along with her rifled effort forcing a parried save from Catalina Coll.

One other enormous likelihood went begging near half-time with Nusken virtually punishing a sloppy Barca again move. She fed the ball to James who was in some way unable to fit house from shut vary.

The second half noticed Chelsea come out swinging seeking a leveller.

However catastrophe struck when Buchanan was despatched off.

Hayes made a late roll of the cube sending on striker Aggie Beever-Jones for Leupolz.

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And a triple 84th-minute substitution noticed Fran Kirby and Eve Perisset coming into fray alongside skipper Millie Vibrant who performed up high as a back-up striker.

Chelsea appealed for a pen when Beever-Jones was introduced down within the field late on. However a VAR verify noticed nothing award.

The guests held out to say the victory.

A duel with Lyon or Paris-Saint Germain awaits them within the ultimate in Bilbao, Spain in Might.