Macario scores twice from spot as Chelsea beat Actual Madrid to high Group B

Catarina Macario got here off the bench to attain twice from the penalty spot as Chelsea got here from behind to beat Actual Madrid and seal high spot in Group B of the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League.

Each groups had already certified for the knockout levels previous to kick-off, with solely their order in Group B to be decided on the evening, and Chelsea’s first-half show was notable for its lack of depth.

Actual took the lead early when Hannah Hampton couldn’t maintain out the wonderful Caroline Weir’s shot, and Los Blancos had the higher of a primary half that noticed a scattering of possibilities at every finish.

However half-time substitute Macario reworked the sport because the English guests began the second half with a markedly elevated tempo.

The USA worldwide had a aim dominated out for offside simply moments after the restart, and had scored twice from the spot simply 11 minutes into her time on the sphere, twice capturing excessive to the keeper’s left with Olga Carmona giving freely each spot kicks.

Actual Madrid threw gamers ahead in an more and more frenzied second half as they went seeking the popular qualifying spot in Group B, however Chelsea held agency to proceed their spectacular run within the competitors and qualify with six wins from six.

For a lot of the sport it was Actual Madrid’s mercurial midfielder Weir who stood out as probably the most influential participant on the pitch, because the Scottish star put in a world-class show.

However the defining efficiency of the evening got here from the half-time substitute Macario, who blew Actual away in a exceptional and dominant spell initially of the second half.

She had a aim disallowed, gained the primary penalty and was ruthless from the spot on each events to earn Chelsea their 2-1 win.

Actual Madrid: Misa 8; García 8, Lakrar 7, Mendez 7, Carmona 5; Angeldahl 7, Toletti 6, Leupolz 6; Weir 9, Bruun 6, Caicedo 7. Subs: Redondo 7, Feller 8, Athenea 7.

Chelsea: Hampton 6; Bronze 7, Bjorn 6, Vivid 6, Charles 7; Nusken 6, Cuthbert 7; Kaptein 7, Reiten 6, Beever-Jones 6; Ramirez 7. Subs: Hamano 7, Macario 9, Baltimore 8, Lawrence 8.

Neither of those golf equipment have ever gained the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League, however each can have hopes of fixing that this season. Progress to the knockout levels was at all times more likely to be a formality in a gaggle containing Twente and Celtic, however the brand new 12 months will see the competitors enter its critically aggressive knockout section.

The standard of the groups awaiting Chelsea and Actual within the knockouts is extraordinarily excessive: reigning champions Barcelona and Bompastor’s former membership Lyon shall be joined by German golf equipment Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, with WSL giants Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis finishing an exceptionally sturdy set of eight groups who will battle it out for Europe’s largest honour.

8’ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 CHELSEA (WEIR) Actual Madrid have an early lead and Hannah Hampton gained’t need to see this once more. A searing break sees Weir and Carmona put Caicedo in a harmful place within the field. She lays it again for Weir to shoot, and Hampton seems to claw it over the bar however succeeds solely in tipping it on to the submit and in to the again of the online. The build-up was very good nevertheless it’s a irritating means for Chelsea to concede.

45’ – CHANGE AT THE BREAK Maya Ramirez labored exceptionally laborious within the first half and has been changed on the break by Catarina Macario.

46’ – FAST START FROM CHELSEA The tempo is noticeably increased from Chelsea proper initially of the second half and so they look to have equalised early on, with Macario slipped in to complete past the keeper, however she had barely mistimed her run and was offside.

49’ – PENALTY! Macario jinks into the field and Carmona sticks a leg out to deliver down the half-time substitute. The Actual Madrid captain is livid concerning the choice, nevertheless it seems like a foul on the replay and Chelsea have the prospect to degree from the spot.

52’ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-1 CHELSEA (MACARIO) Catarina Macario has been unimaginable in her first couple of minutes on the pitch and she or he hammers dwelling her penalty, sending the keeper the flawed means. 1-1. Recreation on.

54’ – PENALTY! It’s one other penalty for Chelsea! Actual Madrid needlessly give the ball away and Chelsea get the ball into the field, the place it takes a deflection to strike Carmona on the arm. It’s extremely unfortunate, however it’s a handball and the penalty is given.

57’ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-2 CHELSEA (MACARIO) It’s a carbon copy from Macario, who once more goes excessive to the keeper’s left to attain her second aim of the sport having solely been on the sphere for ten minutes. 2-1 Chelsea and so they’re again on high in Group B.

Chelsea have solely misplaced two Champions League video games for the reason that begin of the 2022/23 season – each in semi-finals in opposition to Barcelona, with Barca successful the two-legged tie, after which the ultimate, on every event.

The draw for the quarter-finals shall be held on February 7, with the two-legged ties set to be performed on March 18/19 and 26/27.