Sonia Bompastor: Refereeing ‘not good enough’ for controversial disallowed goal in UEFA Women’s Champions League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea

Goals from Stina Blackstenius and Chloe Kelly gave Arsenal a two-goal lead, with Chelsea hitting the post twice in the opening stages, before a stunning long-range effort from Lauren James halved the deficit after the interval.

Alessia Russo struck later in the second half though to restore The Gunners’ two-goal advantage heading into the second leg.

But the big talking point from the first leg at the Emirates came on the stroke of half-time when Chelsea had a goal disallowed by the referee.

From an out-swinging free-kick, Veerle Buurman rose highest and nodded home over her marker, Laia Codina. And despite seemingly minimal contact between the two players, referee Alina Pesu decided to rule the goal out because of a foul by Buurman on Codina.

The video assistant referee checked the incident and confirmed the on-field decision, despite Chelsea’s protests.

Highlights: Chelsea edge Man Utd in FA Cup extra-time drama

Video credit: TNT Sports

After the game, Bompastor said the refereeing in the game was ”not good enough”.

“When you are playing a quarter-final of the Champions League, you need to have the best referees, especially when you have the VAR,” she told BBC Sport.

”I think it’s crazy the goals we got disallowed were actually good goals.

“The referee whistled before the VAR checked the decision. When you know the VAR is there, allow the goal and if the goal is not allowed because there is a fault, you just disallow the goal. So I think it was not good enough.

“Maybe people will think I am saying that because I am a bad loser and we lost the game. Credit to Arsenal, they won the game and don’t worry about that, that’s not my main concern, but at this level it has to be a lot better.”

Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze also expressed her frustration at the refereeing for their disallowed goal.

“It was disappointing because I feel like we could have swung the momentum back a little bit.”

The second leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, April 1 at 20:00 UK time.

‘I didn’t know that!’

Tuesday’s game continues Russo’s excellent scoring form in the Champions League this season.

Her goal against Chelsea was her eighth in the competition and it further extended her lead atop the goal-scoring charts this campaign; she is three goals ahead of the next closest player, with Evelyne Viens, Lineth Beerensteyn, Caroline Weir and Pernille Harder scoring five.

Her eight goals is also the most by an English player in a single season in the Champions League, something the 27-year-old was not aware of when it was posed to her after the game.

”I didn’t know that! Hopefully more goals and more wins in this competition,” said Russo.

Russo added that Arsenal have plenty to improve on in what might prove to be a competitive second leg against Chelsea.

”We want to be better on the ball. We definitely know that with two goals it can change in an instant,” Russo told the BBC.

”It is nowhere near done. We’ll have to prepare really well and see what we can improve on from this game. They came out really well and we’ll need to settle that. We know the tie is nowhere near done.”