EMMA HAYES blasted what she called the “worst decision in Women’s Champions League history” after Chelsea fell to a loss to Barcelona.
Kadeisha Buchanan was given her marching orders in the second half of an intense battle with the Blues dispatched 2-1 on aggregate at Stamford Bridge.
The second-leg defeat – watched by a record 39, 398-stromg crowd at the stadium led to the hosts being knocked out of the contest semis for the second year in a row by Spain’s top -flight leaders.
It ended their dreams of lifting a Champions League trophy for the first and last time under Hayes, with the Blues chief taking over as United States’ women’s boss this year.
It also saw hopes of a silverware double crushed with the WSL title remaining their only chance of a trophy following semis and final losses in the FA and Conti Cups.
Buchanan was booked twice in four minutes by ref Iuliana Demetrescu.
First for a trip on Salma Paralluelo and then following challenge on Patri Guijarro with both players battling for possession.
While the centre-back got the ball during the second incident, she was given her marching orders after Guijarro dropped to the turf clutching her foot.
And she looked crestfallen as she headed straight down the tunnel after her 59th-minute second booking with her team-mates appeals dismissed by the ref.
The sending off occurred after Barca had taken a first-half 1-0 following Aitana Bonmati’s strike deflecting into goal off Buchanan.
Hayes said: “They had a strong first half, the deflected goal puts them in a good position.
“But in the second half I felt we were just comiyng on top, and you could see the combination of the crowd and the players were driving us, the felt really confident.
“So, when you get such a shocking refereeing decision, there’s nothing you can do about it.
“It’s hard enough when you’ve got 11 but when you’ve got 10 it’s virtually impossible.”
Of the foul that led to Buchanan’s dismissal, Hayes added: “Even the Barcelona players said the referee was helpful to them. I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card.
“When you lose a game, for us we didn’t feel we got the opportunity to lose it, that was taken away.
“I was surprised when I saw her selected, she’s known for (giving) easy cards. That was probably the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions League history.
Buchanan’s departure was followed by spot-kick drama with the visitors awarded a 74th-minute penalty.
This occurred after Bonmati fell in the box after with a collision with Blues defenders Ashley Lawrence and Jess Carter.
A VAR check upheld Demetrescu’s decision to award a pen netted by Fridolina Rolfo who sent keeper Hannah Hampton the wrong way before her bottom corner finish.
Hayes, who had influential striker Mayra Ramirez absent, said: “I’m gutted for them [the players], we were robbed.
“I genuinely believe we were on top of the game, we’d just hit the post, we could feel the momentum going in that direction, but we didn’t get the chance to experience that.
All the talking is about that. Yes, we lost Mayra Ramirez after training, that didn’t help, but you need everything to go your way, two yellow cards, a deflection and a penalty, everything went their way.”
At the game’s start the scene was set for what some Chelsea fans would have hoped would be a fairytale Stamford Bridge farewell to Hayes in her last appearance as Blues boss at the ground
A record crowd of 39,398 flocked to watch the match – the largest ever for a women’s fixture at the ground let alone a Women’s Champions League battle.
The opening 20 minutes saw the rivals vying for control of the ball before Barcelona gained the upper hand in attack with Aitana Bonmati among their iggest threats.
The Women’s Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring in the 25th minute with her angled shot following a Keira Walsh’s pass deflected into goal.
But rather than let their heads drop Chelsea, who were without influential striker Mayra Ramirez, responded brightly.
And they had some gilt-edged chances to level.
The crowd roared when Melanie Leupolz struck the post from six yards out in the 31st minute.
However, that effort would not have counted with Lauren James offside.
And Catarina Macario forced a corner with her rifled effort forcing a parried save from Catalina Coll.
Another huge chance went begging close to half-time with Nusken almost punishing a sloppy Barca back pass. She fed the ball to James who was somehow unable to slot home from close range.
The second half saw Chelsea come out swinging in search of a leveller.
But disaster struck when Buchanan was sent off.
Hayes made a late roll of the dice sending on striker Aggie Beever-Jones for Leupolz.
And a triple 84th-minute substitution saw Fran Kirby and Eve Perisset entering fray alongside skipper Millie Bright who played up top as a back-up striker.
Chelsea appealed for a pen when Beever-Jones was brought down in the box late on. But a VAR check saw nothing award.
The visitors held out to claim the victory.
A duel with Lyon or Paris-Saint Germain awaits them in the final in Bilbao, Spain in May.
