Chelsea 0-2 Barcelona (1-2 agg): Blues dealt Champions League heartbreak as controversial semi-final second-leg defeat knocks them OUT - with Aitana Bonmati and Fridolina Rolfo on target

The problem pinch playing nan champion squad successful nan world complete 2 legs is that you request to nutrient a cleanable capacity twice. Chelsea managed it successful Barcelona, but were undone astatine Stamford Bridge. The mini margins went against them. 

A deflection which helped Aitana Bonmati level nan necktie successful nan first half. The crossbar and post, which saved Barcelona connected aggregate occasions. But astir importantly, Chelsea were near rueing 2 arguable officiating decisions that swung nan equilibrium of this 2nd limb successful Barca's favour.

The first saw Kadeisha Buchanan wrongly sent disconnected for a 2nd bookable offence connected nan hr mark, leaving Chelsea to play pinch 10. The 2nd saw Aitana Bonmati, who had brought Barca level connected aggregate successful nan first half, triumph a questionable punishment - which Fridolina Rolfo converted.

It was not nan Stamford Bridge swansong Emma Hayes deserved and location will beryllium nary fairytale ending successful Bilbao adjacent month. Chelsea whitethorn still triumph nan Women's Super League title, but they could besides decorativeness nan play without silverware.

Football is not ever fair, and nan measurement Chelsea mislaid this crippled felt unjust. Hayes appeared to utter nan words 'I consciousness robbed' astatine full-time. To person pushed Barca truthful adjacent will beryllium of small comfort, but some Hayes and her players tin beryllium proud.

After inflicting a first location conclusion successful 5 years connected nan Catalans past week, Chelsea knew their opponents would propulsion everything astatine them successful nan opening stages of this 2nd leg. 

After weathering nan large wind for 25 minutes, nan Blues' guidance was surgery erstwhile Bonmati's changeable from nan separator of nan container deflected disconnected Kadeisha Buchanan and into nan bottommost correct corner. 

Chelsea's consequence to going down was affirmative but they saw 3 bully chances to equalise spell begging. First, Macario forced Cata Coll into a good prevention pinch a half-volley from nan separator of nan box. 

Then Melanie Leupolz deed nan barroom astatine nan back-post erstwhile it was easier to score. Chelsea should person equalised again erstwhile Barca played themselves into problem arsenic Irene Parades' backpass to Coll was intercepted by Sjoeke Nusken. 

The midfielder's cut-back evaded James but dropped to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. She laid nan shot backmost to Erin Cuthbert but her effort flew complete nan bar.

Another immense chance fell Chelsea's measurement early successful nan 2nd half erstwhile Ashley Lawrence was played successful by James. The afloat backmost picked retired Nusken successful nan box, but nan midfielder's changeable deed nan extracurricular of nan acold station and bounced wide.

Then came nan first arguable moment. 

Buchanan had been booked for an earlier foul and erstwhile she challenged for nan shot pinch Patri Guijarro, referee Iuliana Demetrescu gave a free-kick to Barca and brandished a 2nd yellowish paper for nan Chelsea defender. 

Replays showed Buchanan had won nan shot cleanly, but because it was a 2nd yellowish paper alternatively than a consecutive red, VAR could not reappraisal nan incident. Buchanan had to locomotion and Chelsea had to play pinch 10.

The Blues had done good to support Barca astatine bay, but successful nan 75th infinitesimal different determination went against them. Bonmati was played successful down nan near and fell to nan crushed successful nan container while nether unit from Lawrence and Jess Carter. 

The referee pointed to nan spot. It was harsh, pinch replays indicating Bonmati had initiated nan contact, but it was nan type of determination that VAR does not overturn.

Hayes threw connected Millie Bright arsenic a makeshift striker successful nan dream of keeping nan crippled alive, but Barca's subordinate advantage meant Chelsea could not break their opponents down.