Catarina Macario scored twice from the penalty spot in a remarkable five-minute second-half spell, leading Chelsea to a 2-1 comeback win over Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League on Tuesday and securing their status as group winners.
Introduced at half-time with Chelsea trailing 1-0 after Caroline Weir’s early goal for the hosts, Macario, 25, showed great composure to convert two penalties. Her brace gave Chelsea a six-point lead over Real Madrid, ensuring they finished top of Group B on the final matchday.
“We were not happy with our first-half performance,” said Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor. “At half-time, we all came together and agreed we had nothing to lose. We have a strong mentality, and that’s crucial for winning games.”
Weir’s chipped finish in the 7th minute had put Real Madrid in control, with a 1-0 lead enough to see them advance as group winners on goal difference. If the match had ended 1-0, both teams would have been tied on aggregate, and goal difference across the group stage would have decided the top spot.
However, Macario quickly turned the tide, equalizing just six minutes after her introduction, then completing the turnaround with her second penalty in the 56th minute.
“Macario is a world-class player, she changed the game. She showed incredible confidence in scoring those two penalties,” Bompastor praised.
Real Madrid captain Olga Carmona, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s comeback. She fouled Macario in the box to concede the first penalty and later handled the ball inside the area, leading to the second spot-kick.
Chelsea’s victory extends their impressive run, with nine consecutive wins in the group stage dating back to last season’s Champions League campaign.
In the other Group B match, Dutch side Twente defeated Celtic 3-0 in Enschede, condemning the Scottish team to a sixth defeat in as many outings.
Later, eight-time champions Lyon face two-time winners Wolfsburg, with Lyon already assured of finishing top in Group A.
AFP
