Catarina Macario, the talented striker from the United States, made a significant impact as a second-half substitute for Chelsea, scoring two crucial penalties in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Real Madrid. This win secured Chelsea’s top position in their Women’s Champions League group, maintaining an impressive 100% record on Tuesday.
While Real Madrid had already confirmed their advancement to the quarterfinals alongside Chelsea, they needed a victory at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to claim the top spot in Group B.
The match began with Madrid taking the lead as Caroline Weir scored in the seventh minute. Weir’s shot was deflected onto the post by Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, before finding its way into the net.
Macario’s halftime introduction changed the course of the game, showcasing her agility and skill. She earned a penalty after being fouled by Olga Carmona, setting the stage for her to shine.
With precision, the Brazil-born forward converted her first penalty with a right-footed shot into the top corner in the 51st minute. Just five minutes later, she found the net again, converting a second penalty in nearly the same spot after Wieke Kaptein’s flick was handled by Carmona.
Chelsea’s remarkable performance this season continues under the guidance of new coach Sonia Bompastor, as they remain unbeaten. In the Women’s Super League, Chelsea has achieved nine victories and one draw, demonstrating their dominance.
Lyon, another powerhouse in women’s football, also finished their group stage with a perfect 18 points after a narrow 1-0 victory against Wolfsburg, with Danielle van de Donk scoring the decisive goal in the 81st minute.
Both Lyon and Chelsea had already secured their spots in the quarterfinals, with Lyon guaranteed to top Group A.
In other matches, Roma triumphed over Galatasaray with a convincing 3-0 win, while Twente also defeated Celtic by the same scoreline in Group B. Unfortunately, these teams had already been eliminated from the competition.
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Catarina Macario
United States
UEFA Women’s Champions League
