A dramatic remaining quarter-hour noticed Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor despatched off after Sjoeke Nusken had given the Blues late hope of a Ladies’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg comeback towards Arsenal, however the Gunners had been 3-2 winners on combination.
Nusken’s purpose was arguably deserved for Chelsea as they received 1-0 on the night time however they had been unable to overturn the 3-1 deficit from the primary leg as they had been left to rue a string of missed possibilities.
The spark got here across the eightieth minute when Stina Blackstenius headed house, pondering she had sealed Arsenal’s semi-final place, however VAR dominated the purpose out for offside.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor hits out at VAR after Arsenal’s Katie McCabe wasn’t penalised for pulling the hair of Alyssa Thompson
Chelsea instantly went up the opposite finish, however Nusken missed the chance, having additionally finished so twice within the opening eight minutes.
The Germany worldwide additionally compelled a spectacular save from Daphne van Domselaar in a chaotic quarter of an hour, with the Gunners stopper additionally preserving out a Lauren James rocket. Veerle Buurman despatched the rebound onto the put up, after she was denied a purpose by VAR within the first leg final week.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor shouts at referee Frida Mia Klarlund Nielsen, incomes a yellow card, which is adopted by a second
Within the fourth of 5 added minutes on the finish of the second half, Nusken fired Chelsea forward, however the largest drama was but to come back.
Bompastor had been tetchy with the officers for many of the sport, following on from her criticism of VAR to disallow Buurman’s purpose for a supposed foul on Laia Codina on the Emirates.
However she was incandescent when Katie McCabe was not penalised for pulling the hair of Alyssa Thompson. Quite than the Arsenal participant receiving a yellow card, it was Bompastor who went into the referee’s e book.
Lower than a minute later, the Chelsea coach tried to choose up the ball rapidly from the ft of an Arsenal participant and within the melee, encroached on the pitch. That was one other yellow after which a purple, as she watched the ultimate moments by way of the plexiglass alongside the facet of the Stamford Bridge tunnel.
Arsenal gamers applaud the followers after advancing to the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League semi-finals by beating Chelsea
It was total a irritating night time for the Blues, who will really feel they’d greater than sufficient possibilities to win the sport. Thompson, Nusken and Sam Kerr all went shut, however it was too little, too late as they exit the Champions League – the one trophy they’re but to win – for an additional 12 months.
For Arsenal, although, they attain the semi-finals as soon as once more as their title defence continues, and can face both Lyon or Wolfsburg, who play their second leg on Thursday night.
‘It was a transparent purple card for the Arsenal participant’
Bompastor was left livid by the choice to not ship McCabe off, saying it was a “clear” purple card.
“The disappointment is huge,” she mentioned of Chelsea’s Champions League exit. “We wanted to come into this game and give our all.
“When it comes to efficiency we did what we needed to do, we created loads of alternatives however we did not rating. That’s the actuality. That’s the reason we’re not certified for the semi-finals.
“But a lot of emotions because I think at the end of the game, some decisions were really controversial.”
Bompastor was despatched off for 2 late yellow playing cards
On the hair pull, she added: “For me, it is clearly a red card for the Arsenal player. She’s pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair. If the VAR is not able to check that situation, I don’t know why we have the VAR.
“She would not have a purple card – it’s clearly a purple card – and, yeah, I’m going on my feelings. I should not however, on the finish, I am the one with the purple card.
“If you look at all the decisions in the first leg and second leg, that’s part of the result at the end. That’s really disappointing.”
“No, I don’t want to speak to them because it’s always the same story,” Bompastor mentioned when requested if she had spoken to the officers.
“Even if I go and speak to them, they will not give me a clear answer. It’s difficult for me because I don’t want to be the only one talking about this situation.
“However everybody wants to grasp that is the distinction between being certified and never being certified. It has a huge impact on gamers.
“I’m really proud of my players, I think they gave everything and they don’t deserve that level of refereeing again.”
Bronze: It’s a must to present up within the Champions League
Chelsea’s bid for a primary Champions League title was ended by Arsenal
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze to BBC Sport: “There’s not much more we could do across both legs. We were the better team but not the most clinical. That was the difference.
“They’d medical finishes within the first sport which gave us an uphill battle towards a high group. We knew we might get the win tonight which is clearly what we did however too many missed possibilities and crossbars.
“We could be proud of what we did. There’s not much more we could do… We need to take that energy and focus into the end of the season because there’s still things to play for.”
On how far-off Chelsea are from a Champions League title: “Not far. The competition has tightened up and the first leg killed us a bit. We went toe to toe with Arsenal who are the current champions and we beat them tonight and should have had better result in the first leg.
“It is determined by every sport and who turns up. Final 12 months, each one had Barca because the favourites however Arsenal went on the day and clinched it. That is the Champions League, it’s a must to present up and be counted and rating the objectives.”
Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze (centre) speaks to team-mates after seeing Arsenal have a purpose dominated out for offside through VAR
Slegers pleased with Arsenal mentality
In the meantime, Arsenal boss Renee Slegers was delighted together with her facet’s mentality as they stored their hopes of profitable a second straight Champions League title alive.
“It was a very hard scenario going into this game with a two-goal lead,” Slegers mentioned. “The three games before this game had been very tight with small margins.
“We had been making ready for this once more. So pleased with the gamers, principally from a mentality perspective – how they managed this sport. Actually pleased with the mentality once more.”
On McCabe’s hair pull on Thompson, she added: “I’ve seen the nonetheless image again. I did not see the incident on the pitch when it was occurring however I did see Katie going to Alyssa to apologise. My assumption is it isn’t intentional however it’s in fact unfortunate. I’ve to observe it again earlier than I remark extra.”
Little: It would be nice to defend the title
Arsenal captain Kim Little to BBC Sport: “We’ve not had the begin to the season that we wished however we have now grown because the season has gone and been actually dominant in competitions.
“Ultimately that’s not good enough. You want to be consistent and league champions. We need to make sure we are consistent and on it. We discuss that about how we have better starts.
“It will be good to do it two years in a row, we’ll give all of it we will.”
