Hansen hit not enough to keep Hayes downcast
EMMA HAYES insisted Chelsea are still in their Champions League semi-final tie despite being a goal down to Barcelona.
The Blues were beaten by a superb curling strike from Caroline Graham Hansen that flew past Ann-katrin Berger, stunning Stamford Bridge after just four minutes.
Chelsea nearly levelled when Guro Reiten rounded the keeper but England’s Lucy Bronze made a goal-saving block.
The visitors were excellent throughout but did lose Bronze to injury after the break.
Manager Hayes, who was beaten 4-0 by the Spanish giants in the 2021 final, said Chelsea showed their progress by staying in the contest.
“You have to be perfect to beat these guys, they’re amazing,” Hayes said. “We had a big chance with Guro, we have to be better on the ball in the right moments.
“But I think I’m grateful the tie wasn’t over after 25 minutes. I see that as progress.
“You have to be in the tie and we are. We have to prepare again for another game.
“Our players have experienced that game and it’s important we learn from that. My big message is just to stay in the tie.”
Forwards Geyse and Hansen also forced good saves from Berger in the first half, as the visitors controlled
Chelsea Women 0 Barcelona Femenino 1
early proceedings.
But Chelsea did offer a threat on the break, Reiten having the ball in the net, only for Sam Kerr to be marginally offside in the build-up.
They also managed to restrict Barcelona to few opportunities after the break.
Hayes added: “The back three can all be very proud of their performance.
They did the best they could.
“We limited them to as few chances as we possibly could have.
I’ll take that going into the next leg.”
England defender Bronze (left) is feeling “really good” despite limping off in the second half.
“It was something in her knee but now she is fine,” said Barca boss Jonatan Giraldez.
“In the moment we made the substitution because it looked bad but in this moment the feeling is really good.”
The scare comes a day after Lionesses ace Leah Williamson was ruled out of the World Cup with an
ACL injury while playing for Arsenal. CHELSEA: Berger 7; Perisset 7
(Kaneryd 84th), Mjede 6, Eriksson 7, Carter 6; Cuthbert 6 (Ingle 68th, 6), Leupolz 7 (Fleming 83rd), Reiten 7 (Harder 84th); Cankovic 6 (James 46th, 7), Charles 6, Kerr 7
BARCELONA: Panos 6; Paredes 6, Leon 6, Bronze 7 (Torrejon 67th, 6), Rolfo 6; Guijarro 6, Walsh 8 (Engen 84th), Bonmati 7; Hansen 9 (Oshoala 84th), Geyse 8 (Caldentey 60th, 6), Paralluelo 6 (Crnogorcevic 85th)
MAN OF THE MATCH: CAROLINE GRAHAM HANSEN – Early moment of magic settled things but Norwegian was a constant threat throughout.
REF: J Adamkova 27,697