Chelsea and Actual Madrid left their Champions League group finely poised after a 1-1 draw on the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium on Thursday night.
Guro Reiten’s second half penalty cancelled out Caroline Weir’s first half opener in a tightly fought contest, and signifies that Chelsea, Actual Madrid and PSG are all nonetheless mathematically capable of qualify for the quarter finals as group winners heading into the ultimate two group stage matches.
Chelsea began within the ascendency, Sam Kerr cracking the bar from shut vary inside two minutes after an Erin Cuthbert nook had triggered a aim mouth scramble.
However simply as that they had executed at Kingsmeadow a fortnight in the past, Actual grew into the sport. The vigorous Olga Carmona noticed an effort from vary fly narrowly vast because the Spanish outfit began to get pleasure from extra possession within the Blues half.
It was a scrappy first 45, characterised by a number of turnovers and transitions. Chelsea nearly capitalised on a misplaced move deep into the Actual half on the half hour mark, as Lauren James picked up the free ball and slipped in Kerr. The Chelsea was once more denied by the woodwork, this time smacking the submit.
The guests had been made to pay for his or her missed alternatives as Actual took the lead six minutes later. Ann-Katrin Berger’s poor tried move into midfield was reduce out by Weir, who diligently stroked the ball into the again of the online from the sting of the world – her second aim in three appearances in opposition to WSL opposition since departing the league in the summertime.
Chelsea had been gifted a golden alternative to attract degree 14 minutes into the second half after Guro Reiten was clumsily tripped by Ivana Andrés. Reiten’s subsequent spot kick clattered the submit, however rebounded in off the pinnacle of the unlucky Misa Rodriguez.
The sport turned extra stretched and open within the closing quarter-hour, with Berger redeeming herself following her first half error with an outstanding save to maintain out Carmona from level clean vary.
It was Misa’s flip to tug off an outstanding cease because the clock ticked down as one other likelihood for Kerr went begging. The Actual keeper stretched magnificently to maintain out the Chelsea ahead, who had been beautifully discovered by Reiten, to protect a degree for her facet.
GK: Misa Rodríguez – 7/10 – Unlucky to see Reiten’s penalty go in off the again of her head after diving the proper approach. Made a terrific, stretching save within the latter levels to maintain out Kerr and protect a degree for her facet.
RB: Ivana Andrés – 5/10 – Misplaced her bearings as Reiten acquired in behind and clumsily introduced her down for the Chelsea equaliser.
CB: Rocío Gálvez – 7/10 – Regular and reliable, hardly put a foot fallacious.
CB: Kathellen – 6/10 – Produced an enormous block to maintain out James within the first half. Misplaced observe of Kerr on a few events and was lucky to not be punished, however in any other case largely stable.
LB: Olga Carmona – 8/10 – Actually livley and attacking, getting ahead at each risk. Fired narrowly vast from vary within the first half, and denied by a wonderful Berger cease within the second.
CM: Claudia Zornoza – 5/10 – Struggled to get her foot on the ball and string a collection of passes collectively in a transitional recreation. Changed with 15 remaining.
CM: Sandie Toletti – 7/10 – Tidy in possession and drove Actual ahead from midfield.
CM: Caroline Weir – 7/10 – Nice anticipation to open the scoring, intercepting a poor move along with her first contact and passing the ball into an empty internet from the sting of the world along with her second. Oozed class all through.
RW: Athenea Del Castillo – 6/10 – Had an actual battle with Eriksson, drawing a few low cost fouls and actually irritating the Chelsea full-back. Had much less pleasure in opposition to Charles within the second half.
ST: Esther – 5/10 – Effectively marshalled by Vivid and Buchanan and did not actually have a sniff. Changed simply after the hour.
LW: Naomie Feller – 5/10 – Outshone on the left flank by Carmona behind her. Largely saved quiet.
SUB: Sofie Svava (62′ for Esther) – 6/10
SUB: Maite Oroz (76′ for Zornoza) – 5/10
SUB: Nahikari García (89′ for Feller) – N/A
GK: Ann-Katrin Berger – 5/10 – Had a mare for the Actual aim, dangerously trying to play into midfield and seeing her move reduce out by Wier on the sting of the world. Atoned for her error with an enormous save to maintain Carmona out within the second half.
RB: Jess Carter – 6/10 – Had a very tenacious battle with the spectacular Carmona – the Actual full-back acquired the higher of her a few instances within the second half, nevertheless it was in any other case a really even contest between the pair.
CB: Millie Vivid – 7/10 – Made numerous necessary interceptions and did a great job conserving Esther underneath wraps alongside Buchanan.
CB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 7/10 – Popped up with an enormous block to maintain out Weir within the first half and gained lots within the air.
LB: Magdalena Eriksson – 5/10 – Had an actual scrap with Del Castillo, getting more and more pissed off within the first half on the ease at which the Actual winger hit the deck. Did not enterprise ahead an ideal deal, and changed by the extra assault minded Charles on the break.
CM: Sophie Ingle – 7/10 – Bought Reiten in behind with a superb lofted move within the construct as much as Chelsea’s equaliser. One of many coolest heads in a typically erratic encounter.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – Struggled to stamp her authority on the sport within the first half as possession consistently modified fingers. An improved second half show, impressing along with her skill to get the ball into the entrance three.
CM: Jessie Fleming – 4/10 – Struggled to pay money for the ball at instances and make her mark on proceedings. Largely starved of service and on the fringes of the sport, earlier than being changed at half time.
RW: Lauren James – 7/10 – Performed Kerr in with an impeccably weighted move within the first half, from which Chelsea ought to have scored. Flashes of high quality along with her excellent toes, power and intelligence.
ST: Sam Kerr – 5/10 – Cracked the bar inside two minutes from shut vary, hit the submit when one v one on the half hour mark and denied by a Misa save within the dying levels – alternatives she would normally bury.
LW: Guro Reiten – 7/10 – Received the penalty from which Chelsea equalised. Cracked the submit along with her effort, which nonetheless went in by way of the pinnacle of Misa. Her supply was on level as ever; performed an outstanding teasing, looping ball throughout the face of aim, begging to be buried and picked out Kerr with a powerful by ball within the latter levels.
SUB: Niamh Charles (46′ for Eriksson) – 7/10 – Made an actual impression from the bench along with her tempo, athleticism and willpower.
SUB: Fran Kirby (46′ for Fleming) – 6/10
SUB: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (77′ for James) – 5/10