Emma Hayes’ hopes of Champions League glory in her final season at Chelsea were ended by Barcelona on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Aitana Bonmatí and Fridolina Rolfö saw the Blues defeated and dumped out of the cup after being reduced to 10 players.
Chelsea headed into the game with a 1-0 lead following the first leg of the semi-final but two major decisions from referee luliana Demetrescu went against them to send the current holders through to final instead.
Chelsea’s Kadeisha Buchanan was shown a second yellow in four minutes sending her off just before the hour mark, before Barca were awarded a controversial penalty for a foul on Bonmati in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Bonmati, who cancelled out Chelsea’s lead with a strike of her own in the first half, went down after being sent into Ashley Lawrence following contact with Jess Carter inside the box.
The decision was certainly contentious, with home fans and Chelsea themselves contesting the spot kick, but VAR did not overturn it.
From the spot, Rolfö converted the chance with ease, sending the ball past Hannah Hampton to ensure her team’s ticket to next month’s final in Bilbao.
Despite only having three shots on target, it was the visitors who were clinical with their chances, while the hosts were denied twice by the woodwork.
While Chelsea bow of the competition, with now just the WSL to focus on, Barca will look to defend their European title next month against Olympique Lyonnias.
It will be their fifth Champions League final in six years, and their third occasion meeting with Lyon – another final awaits the Blaugrana to see if they can continue to make history.
Featured image courtesy of Jenny Chen.