ERIN CUTHBERT says Emma Hayes sometimes brings out the animal in her on the pitch.
Today the Chelsea captain and the Blues roared their way to a 1-0 Champions League semis first-leg win beating Barcelona in their backyard – the Spanish giants’ first competitive home defeat for FIVE years.
A narrow but vital first-leg victory puts them a little bit closer to the chance of reaching the final for the second time in their history.
And it is one that could potentially see them avenge their 2-1 semis loss on aggregate to the Catalan side last year and the 4-0 final trouncing they endured in 2021.
Having lifted the Champions League trophy twice in the last three years, the Spanish league leaders were the favourites coming into this game played at the famous Lluis Companys Stadium.
However, Hayes’ aces had other ideas.
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It was a nervy start with Caroline Graham Hansen firing a shot straight at Hannah Hampton in the eighth minute.
But the visitors grew into the game.
Chelsea had just one first-half shot on target against their hosts who dominated possession early on.
They made it count in the 40th minute, though.
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Cuthbert shimmied on the edge of the area then fired in a stunning top-corner finish after Sjoeke Nusken outsmarted markers to deliver.
There were a few moments of penalty drama in the second half.
First through Barcelona seeing a penalty kick ruled out following the ball striking Kadeisha Buchanan’s arm because Salma Paralluelo was offside.
Then when Mayra Ramirez, who was a menace against Barca’s defence, got kicked by Irene Paredes in the box.
The Colombian striker had a glorious chance to double Chelsea’s lead with 16 minutes of normal time left before blazing over after being closely tracked in the box.
And Paraluello volleyed wide from six yards in the 86th minute before Alexia Putellas fired off target at close range in injury time with the Blues clinching a monumental win.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
