Having suffered loads of previous heartache at Barcelona’s expense, Chelsea could have ordinarily celebrated a 1-1 draw with them within the Ladies’s Champions League.
However this was a missed alternative.
Chelsea have been the higher aspect on the evening, dominating a lot of the first half and creating loads of goalscoring alternatives.
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They led for eight minutes earlier than failing to clear a nook and permitting Ewa Pajor to pounce on the free ball, cancelling out Ellie Carpenter’s scrumptious opener.
Australian Carpenter ought to have scored the winner too however dragged her close-range end vast with 10 minutes to go and solely the keeper to beat.
It was maybe in that second supervisor Sonia Bompastor knew their likelihood to beat Barcelona had gone.
Substitute Catarina Macario additionally had a purpose dominated out for a marginal offside, and when the full-time whistle ultimately went, the Blues boss shook her head in frustration as her aspect dropped to sixth within the league section desk – two factors behind their Spanish guests in first place.
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This was a formidable efficiency and a drastic enchancment from their 8-2 combination defeat by Barcelona in final season’s semi-finals – however their lack of ruthlessness finally proved pricey and denied them the victory they craved.
“I believe it’s irritating to not have received the sport, particularly whenever you have a look at the statistics and the probabilities we had,” mentioned Bompastor.
“We had alternatives to win so I am pissed off for that purpose, however total there have been additionally lots of positives to take.
“We all know within the Champions League and within the vital video games we should be scientific. Now we have spoken about that and my gamers try so arduous.
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“I am actually happy with the efficiency. Everybody labored arduous and I believe after we are taking part in at this stage, we are able to put in performances like this one.”
Greatest efficiency in ‘chess match’
It was not solely Bompastor who couldn’t conceal her disappointment at full-time as Chelsea’s gamers flapped their arms, puffed out their cheeks and stood with their arms on their hips, questioning what extra they may have achieved.
They’ve been chasing an elusive European title for a number of years and it’s Barcelona who’ve proved to be their nemesis, knocking them out in 4 of the previous 5 Champions League campaigns.
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Former Chelsea defender Anita Asante instructed BBC Two: “This is a chance missed for Chelsea. That is one of the best alternative they needed to beat Barcelona and likewise bounce into the highest 4 [of the league phase table].
“That is one of the best efficiency I’ve seen from Chelsea all season. They are going to be delighted with how they approached the sport and executed the gameplan. They pissed off Barcelona and created the three greatest possibilities.”
Barcelona supervisor Pere Romeu admitted it was a “very totally different” Chelsea to the one they beat comfortably in final season’s last-four tie.
Bompastor mentioned the distinction was right down to her techniques – she had been “too bold” final season and modified their set-up consequently on Thursday evening, ensuring they have been much less weak out of possession.
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Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze instructed BBC Two: “It was irritating as a result of we really feel like we may have received the sport on the evening. We most likely had the higher possibilities.
“Coming into the sport, no-one anticipated it to prove like that – perhaps aside from ourselves at Chelsea.
“I used to be saying to Naomi Girma after the sport that we have been taking part in chess.”
‘Girma was defensively strong’
Chelsea received extra tackles and made extra clearances than Barcelona [Getty Images]
Girma was the then-world document signing when Chelsea spent £900,000 to convey her in from San Diego Wave in January – so expectations have been all the time excessive.
The 25-year-old has struggled to settle, although, having been tormented by a knee damage that put a dampener on her eagerly-awaited arrival and restricted her minutes.
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However the USA defender showcased precisely why Chelsea have been prepared to pay the massive bucks with a colossal show in opposition to Europe’s elite aspect.
“Girma will not get the plaudits like different Chelsea gamers will, however she was defensively strong,” mentioned London Metropolis Lionesses ahead Nikita Parris on BBC Two.
“Any time she wanted to get better, together with her pace, she was there. She could be happy with her efficiency, particularly getting back from the knee damage she’s had.”
Girma’s greatest second got here within the first half when she sprinted throughout the six-yard space to dam Caroline Graham Hansen’s goalbound strike.
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It got here only a minute earlier than Carpenter went up the opposite finish and thumped the ball previous goalkeeper Cata Coll to place Chelsea 1-0 up.
When Barcelona tried to discover a manner by within the second half, they may not, largely as a result of Girma learn all their attacking concepts and put a cease to them.
Was this her greatest efficiency for Chelsea?
“Yeah, most likely among the best,” admitted Bompastor. “She is a superb participant and we all know her high quality. It has been a disgrace for her not to have the ability to play extra for us.
“Now she is again and we have to hold her on the pitch since you may see she is a superb participant who has lots of expertise and might convey plenty of high quality.”
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are again for an additional season of the Ladies’s Soccer Weekly podcast. New episodes drop each Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus discover interviews and further content material from the Ladies’s Tremendous League and past on the
