Controversial red card leads to Chelsea defeat at Stamford Bridge

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes saw her team knocked out of the Women’s Champions League by Barcelona in a controversial semi-final match at Stamford Bridge. The defeat marked the last time Hayes will manage Chelsea at the iconic stadium, as she is set to depart to become the United States manager at the end of the season.

The pivotal moment of the match came when Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off for a challenge on Patri Guijarro. Hayes vehemently disagreed with the referee’s decision, calling it the “worst decision in Women’s Champions League history” and stating that her team was “robbed” by the officiating.

Despite being down to 10 players, Chelsea fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, losing 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo sealed the victory with a late penalty, sending them through to the final on 25 May.

Hayes expressed her frustration with the outcome, believing that her team was on top of the game before the red card shifted the momentum in Barcelona’s favor. She lamented the lack of VAR intervention for yellow card decisions and described the sending off of Buchanan as “horrific”.

Missing out on the final means Hayes will leave Chelsea without having won the Champions League, despite achieving success in other competitions. As she prepares to embark on a new chapter in her career, this defeat will surely leave a bitter taste in her mouth as she bids farewell to Stamford Bridge.