Chelsea 1 Arsenal 0 (Agg: 2-3)
Chelsea supervisor Sonia Bompastor was despatched off in a chaotic finish to Chelsea’s Champions League defeat by Arsenal, as Alyssa Thompson appeared to have her hair pulled by Katie McCabe.
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Bompastor acquired two yellow playing cards in fast succession after being left livid by the referee’s choice to play on.
McCabe pulled Thompson to the bottom by her hair simply minutes after Sjoeke Nüsken scored within the 94th-minute to offer Chelsea hope of a comeback.
VAR determined in opposition to additional punishment for this hair pull by Katie McCabe on Alyssa Thompson – BBC
In a submit on Instagram quickly after the match, McCabe stated: “I simply wish to make clear that I used to be genuinely reaching for the shirt, I wouldn’t ever wish to pull somebody’s hair. Full respect to Thompson.”
Talking to BBC post-match, Bompastor stated: “For me, it’s clearly a pink card for the Arsenal participant. She’s pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair. If the VAR shouldn’t be in a position to examine that state of affairs, I don’t know why we’ve the VAR.”
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She added: “She’s making an attempt her finest on the pitch in each video games and it isn’t ok, if you find yourself taking part in soccer and somebody pulls your hair, it’s dangerous.
“In fact, she was crying and emotional with that state of affairs and the outcome.”
Sonia Bompastor was proven two yellow playing cards in a minute of a irritating evening for Chelsea – Alex Davidson/Getty Photographs
Arsenal took a step nearer to defending their Girls’s Champions League crown by holding Chelsea at bay and progressing 3-2 on mixture regardless of shedding 1-0 on the evening.
It’s unlikely anybody will likely be making a highlights reel of the primary 90 minutes of the match for social media, however Arsenal did precisely what they wanted to to safe their place within the semi-finals, till it was nearly too late.
For essentially the most half, it was largely uneventful, with Arsenal taking part in neither essentially the most expansive or engaging soccer, but it surely was efficient. They slowed the sport down expertly, refusing to offer something away or make an error that may permit Chelsea again into the sport.
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Stina Blackstenius thought she had sealed the victory for Arsenal within the 79th minute, however VAR dominated her aim out for offside, but it surely was Chelsea who would break the impasse, though too late to have the ability to drive additional time.
10:30pm
Daphne Van Domselaar awarded participant of the match
Van Domselarr made a string of saves to maintain Chelsea out – Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC
10:20pm
Arsenal captain Kim Little speaks
She tells BBC 2:
“It’s so particular to be again on this competitors and make it to the semi-finals once more. To return right here, figuring out it was laborious to come back with a 3-1 lead. We all know from final 12 months, in a barely completely different place this 12 months in being forward.
“We tried to organize as finest we may for the eventualities and never sit off. Some issues went our method however we defended extraordinarily properly and created possibilities as properly. A terrific effort to cease an amazing Chelsea crew.
“We defended extremely properly and located the gaps once we may, we may have been a bit extra medical however I don’t wish to discuss that, we’re by to the semis.
“You may’t at all times have an ideal recreation however we’ve an unbelievable squad of gamers who’re so dynamic. We attempt to use that as finest we are able to. As a crew we’re rising so much and I believe we’re getting higher and higher, which I believe you’ll be able to see.”
10:06pm
McCabe’s alleged hair pull on Thompson
McCabe pulls Thompson’s hair however avoids a pink card – BBC
10:00pm
Full time – Chelsea 1 Arsenal 0 (Agg 2-3)
The defending champions are by the semi-finals! It’s extra heartache for Chelsea, whose look ahead to a European trophy goes on.
Within the final 10 minutes: Chelsea hit the submit twice, Arsenal hit the submit, Nusken scored, McCabe pulled Thompson’s hair, Bompastor then despatched off.
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Love a quiet finish to a match.
09:59pm
Sonia Bompastor despatched off
Late drama right here as Katie McCabe blatantly pulls Alyssa Thompson’s hair.. however in some way VAR hasn’t noticed it?! A reminder {that a} hair pull is an automated pink card. Thompson is livid, and rightly so.
Bompastor can not cover her anger on the touchline.. she’s proven a yellow card however continues her protests.. and referee pulls out one other. She doesn’t precisely retreat too far into the stands.
It’s descending into chaos..
09:55pm
93 minutes – GOALLLL Chelsea!
Lastly, Chelsea get the breakthrough! Kerr picks up the ball out broad and her cross is met by Nusken who will get in entrance f her marker and places her foot by the ball and beats Van Domselaar!
09:53pm
90 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Now it’s Arsenal’s flip to hit the submit! Mead cuts inside and angles a shot in direction of aim which clips the woodwork. The Gunners make use of a while losing ways within the nook and Bronze and Hinds do battle by the flag.. Arsenal win a free-kick to followers’ fury. The Gunners are practically there..
09:48pm
87 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Bronze hangs in a teasing cross in direction of Nusken, who nods it in direction of aim and Van Domselaar is at full stretch as she ideas the ball onto the woodwork once more! How have they not scored but?! They’ve struck the identical submit twice in three minutes.
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You sense this simply isn’t going to be their evening.
09:46pm
83 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Walsh is subbed off for Kaptein..this would possibly properly be the final tactical change Bompastor has up her sleeve.
Chelsea flood ahead and win a nook.. they take it brief and James opens up her physique and will get the ball on her favoured proper foot to angle a shot in direction of aim, Van Domselaar makes a hash of it and Buurman follows up with the rebound and hits the submit!
09:41pm
80 minutes – Arsenal aim disallowed!
Wonderful link-up play between Mead and Russo… earlier than Blackstenius jumps excessive and directs Holmberg’s cross into the aim and it’s the Gunners who’re heading into the semi-finals..Or has she? VAR Is checking whether or not she strayed offside within the build-up.. sure she did. No aim.
09:38pm
77 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea snaffle a number of extra possibilities and you’re feeling like they’re forcing it now. I suppose that’s what occurs once you chase a recreation.
09:35pm
75 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea are caught excessive and Arsenal go on the counter, Mead meanders down the correct flank and tiptoes into the penalty space, earlier than hoofing the ball as much as Blackstenius and the Swede sticks her head on it – it seemed like a shot quite than a cross – however Blackstenius’ effort flies over the bar.
09:32pm
73 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Has Sonia Bompastor, the Chelsea supervisor, performed all her playing cards? Russo finds a pocket of house, shimmies away from her marker and unleashes a low shot, but it surely falls broad of the submit.
09:31pm
71 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Arsenal make a double change, with Beth Mead and Smilla Holmberg on and Emily Fox and Olivia Smith off.
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The guests pump the ball ahead in direction of Blackstenius and for a short second it appears to be like like Arsenal would possibly make one thing of the counter assault however Chelsea stand their floor however drive a nook.
Mead’s ball doesn’t fairly join with Wubben-Moy, who can’t fairly get beneath it.
09:27pm
68 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea have confirmed an attendance of 16,983. That’s a document for a midweek match at Stamford Bridge within the Girls’s Champions League or WSL.
Charles picks up the ball down the left and sends in a supply however her cross evades Kerr and everybody else within the field. Time is slipping away for the Blues.
09:25pm
65 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Lauren Kames and Katie McCabe are having previous battle with one another.. James is already on a yellow and the Irishwoman will likely be properly conscious of that. Bronze finds Kerr with a protracted cross however Kerr, who has had a quiet evening, heads the ball out for a throw. That virtually sums up Chelsea’s evening up to now.
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Hinds is booked for taking too lengthy with the throw – yep – we’re already in that territory.
09:19pm
60 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea win a nook but it surely’s too deep a supply and Foord comes racing away with the ball, utilizing her physique properly. Chelsea make their first change of the evening – Buchanan and Cuthbert are off for Charles and Baltimore .
09:17pm
58 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Bronze latches onto a free ball and makes an attempt a quite formidable piledriver from 30 yards out, however the ball sails over. Kerr appears to be like sad with that – and instantly tells Bronze she would have most well-liked a cross as an alternative. Extra frustration builds for Chelsea.
09:14pm
55 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
James chops inside and boots a curling effort in direction of aim from the following nook but it surely doesn’t dip sufficient. One other probability goes begging for Chelsea. Each side have definitley upped the tempo this second half.
09:13pm
53 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Hinds wins the ball again in midfield and surges ahead earlier than laying it off to Foord out broad.. however Bronze is there to cope with it and forces a nook. McCabe sends it and Blackstenius nods it in direction of aim.. however her header slams into teammate Kim Little! That seemed prefer it was stepping into..
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Chelsea win it again and flood ahead and Nusken feeds the ball as much as Kerr, whose shot is brilliantly saved by Van Domselaar.. who will get a glove to her shot.
09:09pm
48 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Hinds and Carpenter tussle down the left, and Hinds does properly to win it again off the Australian, who then cynically pulls her to the ground simply exterior the penalty space. She is given a yellow card for her effort however Arsenal fail to profit from the ensuing free kick.
09:07pm
47 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
The followers who’ve made their solution to Stamford Bridge could be hoping for extra pleasure within the second half, however Arsenal have performed every part they wanted to. They’ve averted making any errors that may permit Chelsea again within the recreation and efficiently nullified any menace provided.
09:05pm
Chelsea pissed off
Chelsea captain Erin Cuthbert was in deep dialog with referee Frida Klarlund after the HT whistle, seemingly suggesting that Arsenal have been utilizing stoppages to frustrate each Chelsea’s gamers and the house crowd. The Blues certain did come out of the blocks however have been thrawted by Arsenal’s defence. You sense Lauren James, who has loved a variety of the ball, will play an enormous half in thie second half.
08:49pm
Half-time – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
That’s it – there’s the whistle. Arsenal, the reigning European champions, are very a lot accountable for this tie.
08:47pm
45 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Catley isn’t coming again on after that problem, so Arsenal are foced to make an early change. Taylor Hinds is on in her place. Three minutes of stoppage time.
08:46pm
43 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
That was shut for Chelsea! Lauren James whips in a monster of a cross however there isn’t a blue shirt to attach with it. You sense that Arsenal, whereas they’ve seemed comparatively calm and managed, might be undone simply on the again. The Blues have positively had the lion’s share of possibilities on this first half.
08:44pm
39 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Lucy Bronze slides in and catches Olivia Smith late, however the referee says it’s an Arsenal throw-in as an alternative of a Chelsea foul. That’s ired the 3000-strong away finish! Unsure what to make of this one, as Catley goes down after a problem. On the sidelines, Renee Slegers, the Arsenal supervisor, is shelling out some phrases of recommendation/encouragement.
08:37pm
34 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Arsenal win a free-kick in a central place about 25 yards out – Buchanan is the responsible get together after tripping a pink shirt. It’s McCabe standing over the ball – she hits it with some drive however can’t discover a method by the Chelsea wall.
08:35pm
30 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea have upped the ante considerably.. Carpenter is all over the place and engineers an assault down the correct flank, however her low ball by the six-yard space isn’t met by anybody. The Blues regroup and preserve the strain on.. and Thompson stabs a proper foot shot in direction of aim however can’t preserve the strike down.
08:28pm
26 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
It is a promising spell from the Gunners, who’re transferring the ball round fluidly and are attempting to contain Russo as a lot as doable. A pleasant flip from Russo, who has backtracked and receives the all deeply this time, turns away from her marker earlier than discovering Smith with a lateral cross. The guests work it broad to Caldente, who’s pretty challenged by Nusken and it’s a Chelsea goal-kick,
08:24pm
22 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea are working it properly across the edges of the penalty space and Carpenter unleashes a shot but it surely’s blocked by McCabe. The Blues are trying the extra energetic aspect up to now, as Thompson is marshalled carefully by Wubben-Moy down the left.
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Arsenal win again possession and McCabe comes ahead with the ball.. they work the ball broad to Smith and the Canadian dribbles into the realm earlier than Buurman slides in and forces a nook.
McCabe sends in a curling ball which causes some panic within the space earlier than the ball falls to Smith, who’s hovering in a central place. She drives a shot low and laborious but it surely’s blocked.
08:18pm
16 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
OOOH that was shut.. Bronze tries to feed the ball into the penalty space after a drive from Lauren James, and the ball falls into Thompson’s path and he or she whips away a strike but it surely sails narrowly broad!
08:17pm
12 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
It’s been no nonsense stuff so removed from Chelsea, as Wubben-Moy makes a elegant sliding deal with on Carpenter within the penalty space. Arsenal construct in direction of the opposite finish and McCabe tries an formidable long-range strike which soars over the crossbar.
08:12pm
10 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Russo gathers the ball on the sting of the realm and tries to float from her marker.. she does properly to get a low shot away but it surely’s straight at Hampton, who safely gathers.
08:10pm
7 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Cuthbert finds Carpenter out broad and the Australian takes the ball with a luxurious first contact.. she races down the correct earlier than guiding a ball inside to Nusken – who’s in a superb central place – however appears to be like like she’s leaning again as she curls a close-range effort in direction of aim. It drifts broad of the submit. First huge probability for the hosts.
08:08pm
5 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea win a nook and it’s performed brief to Walsh and he or she lobs a ball as much as the again submit.. Kerr is there to go it down into the hazard zone, however Arsenal handle to clear.
08:07pm
Arsenal away finish offered out
With Manchester United knocked out, it’s now all eyes on Stamford Bridge to seek out out which would be the final English aspect standing. Arsenal offered out their 3,000 allocation inside 72 hours and have began in good voice, whereas ticket gross sales from a Chelsea perspective have been a bit extra stilted.
08:05pm
2 minutes – Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0 (Agg 1-3)
Chelsea have talked about needing a quick begin (no shock given the combination rating). Chelsea are already getting their fullbacks excessive and broad .. and there’s an early warning from the referee to Arsenal keeper Daphne van Domselaar that she shouldn’t be going to place up with any time losing tonight.
07:59pm
The groups are strolling out..
Arsenal are unbeaten in opposition to the Blues this season and will likely be bidding to defend their European crown. We’re in for a tasty return leg at Stamford Bridge!
07:12pm
Chelsea crew and subs
Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Cuthbert, James, Thompson, Kerr, Bronze, Buchanan, Walsh
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Subs: Peng, Spencer, Charles, Girma, Sarwie, Baltimore, Kaptein, Potter
07:10pm
Arsenal crew and subs
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Mariona, Little, Russo, Smith, Foord, Blackstenius
Subs: Borbe, Votikova, Codina, Hinds, Holmberg, Pelova, Maanum, Mead, Kelly
06:57pm
English girls’s soccer’s nice rivalry continues at Stamford Bridge
Good night and welcome to our dwell protection of Chelsea v Arsenal within the Girls’s Champions League.
An exciting all-English conflict awaits as Chelsea look to make use of their dwelling benefit to at Stamford Bridge of their second leg in opposition to the reigning European champions.
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Arsenal noticed off their Girls’s Tremendous League rivals in a dramatic contest final week on the Emirates, the place targets from Stina Blackstenius, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo helped the house aspect to a convincing win.
Lauren James’s deft chip was the one optimistic for Chelsea on an evening which left Chelsea supervisor Sonia Bompastor fuming at the usual of refereeing after her aspect had two targets scratched off.
Arsenal will fancy their possibilities after a powerful over Tottenham final weekend, though they will count on Chelsea to awaken a powerful response as they bid to progress to a fourth consecutive European semi-final. “We all know we are able to overturn this outcome,” have been the assured phrases of Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze at full time.
The stats, although, are in opposition to Chelsea. Arsenal having progressed on all 4 earlier events once they have gained a two-goal first-leg lead in a Uefa competitors two-legged tie.
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The Champions League is the one main honour lacking from Chelsea’s trophy cupboard. Whereas the membership have dominated domestically, European success stays the final word aim – one thing they by no means managed to attain underneath former supervisor Emma Hayes.
Regardless of successful the League Cup final month, they’ve endured a sub-optimal season by their very own lofty requirements. They’re 9 factors adrift of WSL leaders Manchester Metropolis and with three video games of the league season remaining, their current dominance in English girls’s soccer appears to be like set to come back to a shuddering halt.