Chelsea 0-2 Barcelona (1-2 aggregate): The Blues suffered Champions League heartbreak when a controversial defeat in the semi-final second leg left them out, with Aitana Bonmati and Fridolina Rolfo on target.

Emma Hayes lamented what she described as “the worst decision in Champions League history” as her Chelsea team suffered heartbreak against Barcelona for the third time.

The Catalans beat the Blues in the 2021 final and semi-finals last season and yesterday ended Hayes’s hopes of winning the only trophy that has eluded him in his final season in charge.

The Blues went into yesterday’s second leg with a 1-0 lead after last week’s victory in Spain, but a first-half goal from Aitana Bonmati brought Barça level before Fridolina Rolfo converted a penalty in the minute 75.

Hayes considered the decision “soft”, but was angered by referee Iuliana Demetrescu’s decision to give Kadeisha Buchanan a second yellow card on the hour mark with the tie at stake.

Replays showed that Buchanan had won the ball, but as it was a second yellow rather than a straight red, VAR was unable to intervene.

Bonmati scored Barça’s first goal of the night, tying the semi-final, thanks to a deflection

Fridolina Rolfo scored a controversial penalty in the second half to complete the comeback

“We were robbed,” Hayes said. “Even the Barcelona players said that the referee helped them. I didn’t think it was a foul, much less a yellow card.

“When you lose a game, for us we didn’t feel like we had a chance to lose it, that was taken away from us.”

‘I was surprised when I saw her (the referee) selected, she is known for her easy cards. That was probably the worst decision in the history of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

“I really think we were on top of the game, as soon as we hit the post, we could feel the momentum going in that direction.”

“I stood there and looked at the fourth official and said ‘surely that will be reviewed’ and she said ‘you can’t do it with a yellow card.’ There’s nothing you can do when it’s such a terrible decision and it’s difficult enough.

‘The official has made a horrible decision. We can’t talk about anything else.’

It was not the Stamford Bridge swan song that Emma Hayes deserved. Chelsea can still win the Women’s Super League title, but they could also end the season without titles. Football and fairy tales don’t always go hand in hand.

Chelsea had weathered the storm in the early stages of yesterday’s match, but their resistance was broken in the 25th minute when Bonmati’s shot from the edge of the area deflected off Buchanan and into the bottom right corner.

Catarina Macario, Melanie Leupolz and Erin Cuthbert all saw great opportunities before Sjoeke Nusken hit the post early in the second half.

The game changed when Buchanan was shown a second yellow card. Chelsea’s 10 players had done well to hold off Barça until they conceded a questionable penalty in the 75th minute.

Kadeisha Buchanan received a controversial second yellow card, reducing Chelsea to 10

Melanie Leupolz wasted a golden opportunity at the far post after crashing into the post.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was called into action as the Blues looked to reach the final.

Emma Hayes denied perfect swan song at Stamford Bridge after agonizing defeat

A record attendance for a women’s match at Stamford Bridge was present for the dramatic draw.

Bonmati fell to the ground under pressure from Ashley Lawrence and Jess Carter. Replays indicated that Bonmati had initiated contact, but VAR did not intervene.

“I thought she was equally soft, but Bonmati is an incredible player,” Hayes said. ‘She’s smart. There she leaves her leg.

Rolfo converted, ending Hayes and Chelsea’s dream for the last time.