The Man City Real Madrid game in the Women’s Champions League finished 1-1 on Thursday night. Bunny Shaw cancelled out Linda Caicedo’s opener, and a late Real goal was ruled out after the referee blocked Beth Mead, Sky Sports reports.
Man City Real Madrid: Caicedo scores, Shaw levels
City had the first big chance. Alex Greenwood clipped a free-kick into the six-yard box in the 10th minute and Mary Fowler headed it against the bar. Ayaka Then Yamashita rushed out to stop Felicia Schroder on 21 minutes.
Caicedo put Real Madrid ahead in the 29th minute. She ran around the outside down the right and clipped a shot inside the far post. Shaw showed good hold-up play before laying the ball off for Yui Hasegawa, but Maelle Lakrar headed the shot away.
However, City improved after the break in the Man City Real Madrid game. Shaw equalised in the 51st minute with a finish across the goalkeeper, after Hasegawa won the ball back in midfield. After that, Shaw headed over from a Lauren Hemp cross, and Hasegawa volleyed wide from a Greenwood corner.
Yamashita made another save, this time from Irune Dorado, as both sides pushed for a winner.
The disallowed goal
In the 89th minute Silvia Cristobal finished into the top corner for Real Madrid in the Man City Real Madrid game. However, referee Silvia Gasperotti had already blown her whistle. Sky says she had inadvertently blocked Mead from reaching the ball.
Real Madrid’s players and coaching staff were furious and appealed for the goal to stand. As a result, The Man City Real Madrid game ended with a flashpoint. Because the whistle came first, the draw held.
What it means for City
The Man City Real Madrid draw is City’s second in two league-phase games, after the opening game away to Bayern Munich. Next up is Arsenal in the Women’s Super League this weekend, live on Sky Sports. Real Madrid prepare to face Barcelona.
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom said it was a hard-fought draw in City’s first home game back in the competition. He said there were a lot of distractions around the club in the build-up, but they did not show in the performance. For example, City kept their focus in a tight game.
Meanwhile, City boss Andree Jeglertz said: “There are no discussions, no thoughts from us” about the Premier League investigation. He added that the players were very calm. Shaw told Disney+ City were disappointed not to win but showed fight at the end. For the wider context, read our report on the Man City appeal.
Read the full Sky Sports match report.
1 comment
Was the referee right to stop play before Cristóbal’s goal, or was Madrid unlucky? Tell us what you saw.