Chelsea's Champions League Dream Crushed by Barcelona
Heartbreak for 10-player Blues as Rolfös Penalty Secures Barça's Final Berth
Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona
Chelsea's hopes of reaching the UEFA Women's Champions League final were shattered in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night as Barcelona emerged victorious in the first leg of their semi-final encounter. Despite playing with 10 players for much of the second half, Barcelona secured a crucial 1-0 victory thanks to a penalty converted by Fridolina Rolfös.
In front of a record crowd of 40,000 at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea endured a frustrating and ultimately disappointing evening. Graham Hansen's sublime opener for Barcelona set the tone, and the visitors seized the initiative throughout the contest.
Chelsea's woes were compounded when Niamh Charles received a second yellow card late in the first half, leaving the Blues with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match. Despite their valiant efforts, Chelsea were unable to find an equalizer and will now face an almost insurmountable task in the second leg at the Camp Nou next week.
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