Real Madrid and Chelsea played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano as the two teams got their UEFA Champions League Group D campaigns underway with a point apiece.

Chelsea had more of the chances in a high-quality encounter in the Spanish capital, but went behind after 11 minutes when Spain’s World Cup final hero Olga Carmona saw a long-range effort deflect in off Millie Bright following a wayward clearance from Ann-Katrin Berger.

Chelsea hit back through the excellent Niamh Charles, who ghosted in at the back post to expertly head home a teasing cross from Ashleigh Lawrence.

And the WSL Champions took the lead after the break when Sam Kerr struck with a close-range header from Charles’ cross.

Madrid offered threat on the break for much of the evening and earned an opportunity to level when Jessie Fleming was adjudged to have fouled Athenea del Castillo in the box, with Carmona scoring from the spot.

Chelsea thought they had snatched it with the final kick of the game, only for Charles’ effort to be ruled out for a questionable offside, and the English visitors had to settle for a point in their opening game of the campaign.

Emma Hayes, who will leave Chelsea at the end of the season after taking on the USA Women’s National Team job, has never won the Women’s Champions League and will look for her side to bounce back against Paris FC next time out.

Group D could well have got off to a winning start for Chelsea were it not for some debatable decisions from the officials on a hard-fought night in Madrid.

The penalty that drew the home side level was questionable, with Fleming making a foul well outside the box and visibly distraught when the referee pointed to the spot.

And the offside call in the final seconds of the game was arguable. Charles was certainly not in an offside position when Bright played the ball into the box, and while Kerr was, it could be argued either way whether she did enough to be said to have interfered with play in the move, not touching the ball as it made its way to Charles at the back post.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – NIAMH CHARLES (CHELSEA)
The Chelsea left-back was outstanding all evening going forward.Her header for Chelsea’s first goal was brilliantly taken, and she produced a number of dangerous moments with her deliveries from the left even before Kerr got on the end of one to put The Blues ahead.On another night she would have had the crowning moment for a superb display with her late disallowed goal, and defensively she was decent too, making one particularly important block after a Real counter-attack.

Real Madrid take the lead against the run of play! A sloppy clearance from Berger leaves Chelsea out of shape and Carmona takes advantage with a shot from range that takes a wicked deflection off Bright to beat the 'keeper. 1-0!

It was coming. Chelsea equalise. A peach of a deep cross from Lawrence is begging to be headed home, and Charles delivers, ghosting in at the back post and directing a lovely header across the 'keeper and into the far corner. 1-1.

Chelsea have the lead and who else but Sam Kerr! Chelsea’s ruthless scoring machine climbs high in the box to send a bullet header from a Charles cross into the back of the net. 2-1.

Real Madrid counter and the referee points to the spot as Fleming brings down Del Castillo. It was a foul and the falling Real Madrid player ended up in the box, but it’s certainly up for debate whether that should have been a spot kick or a free-kick just outside the area.

Carmona delivers from the spot, striking it beautifully to draw Real Madrid level at 2-2. Berger had picked the right side but couldn’t get a hand to it.

Extraordinary drama in Madrid! A long ball forward from Bright is turned home by Charles right at the end of the game, but the goal is chalked off, potentially for an offside. Charles certainly wasn’t in an offside position, but Kerr was and could arguably have been said to be involved in play as he pulled defenders towards her.

Chelsea racked up 20 attempts on goal and 10 corners in a threatening attacking performance, compared to Real’s four attempts and one corner.

Source: Euro Sports

BDST: 0922 HRS, NOV 16, 2023
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