Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea: Emma Hayes’ side denied fairytale start to coach’s last Champions League run as visitors are frustrated by Olga Carmona’s late penalty and a last-gasp winner is controversially chalked off

Emma Hayes had said before kick-off that ending her Chelsea career by winning the Champions League would be a fairytale ending to her 11-year stint with the club.

But the manager also said that she did not grow up liking fairytales. Chelsea should have beaten Real Madrid and when Sam Kerr put them ahead in the 74th minute, it looked for all the world as if they would.

But referee Frida Klarlund’s decision to award Real Madrid a penalty five minutes, despite Athenea Del Castillo being outside the box when she was tripped by Jessie Fleming, allowed Olga Carmona the chance to level from the spot – and she did so emphatically. 

Some may argue that the referee’s decision was an example of why VAR should be used in the group stage as well as the knockout rounds.

Chelsea also thought they had scored a winner in the final seconds when Niamh Charles fired in at the back-post, but the offside flag went up against Kerr – who was deemed to have been interfering with play.

Carmona is a hero in these parts after scoring Spain’s winning goal in the World Cup final against England but Millie Bright is no doubt sick of seeing the full back celebrating. 

She had given Real the lead in the 10th minute when her long range strike deflected off Bright to wrong-foot Ann-Katrin Berger. 

But Charles, who had another impressive performance, brought Chelsea level just before half-time.

It was Charles who teed up Kerr for what should have been the winner before Carmona’s spot-kick ensured the points were shared.

This could still prove a valuable point for Chelsea in the long run but they will know they should have come away with all three given they dominated the second half.

The Blues are the only English team in the group stage after Arsenal and Manchester United were knocked out during qualifying and this is Hayes’ last chance to win the one trophy that she has failed to lift as Chelsea boss.

While they should have taken all three points here, they were slow out of the blocks to go behind early on.

Carmona has already haunted English defenders this year and she was on hand to inflict more damage in the 10th minute. 

The full-back’s long range strike deflected off Bright to leave Ann-Katrin Berger wrong-footed as the ball spun into the left corner of the net.

Kerr nearly found an equaliser midway through the half with a superb volley that was matched by a brilliant save from Misa.

But the goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out Charles’ header just before half-time, with the full back meeting Ashley Lawrence’s cross at the back post to bring her side level.

Kerr went close again just after half-time, with Misa making another excellent save to turn the striker’s effort round the post.

But Kerr would not be denied a third time as she met Charles’ cross from the left to finish from close range.

That should have been the winner but Real were gifted a route back into the game when Fleming lunged in to bring down Athena. The foul took place outside the box but the referee pointed to the spot and Carmona fired into the top right corner.

There was more controversy to come before the final whistle when Charles thought she had scored a winner in the dying seconds, but her strike was ruled out with Kerr deemed to have been interfering with play in an offside position.