Sam Kerr's Champions League hopes ended by Arsenal as coach fumes over 'clear' missed red card
Sam Kerr's likely last chance to win a Champions League has slipped from her grasp as her Chelsea side was knocked out despite a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Thursday morning.
With a 3-1 home victory in the first leg of the quarter final last week, Arsenal reached the last four on a 3-2 aggregate score and will next face either Wolfsburg or Lyonnes.
Early in the second half, a Kerr thunderbolt looked for a moment like it was on its way to the back of the net before it was denied by a stunning save from Arsenal goalie Daphne van Domselaar.
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But the match wasn't without controversy.
Deep into injury time, Sjoeke Nüsken gave Chelsea hope when she put a Kerr cross into the back of the net.
A Sam Kerr shot was spectacularly saved by Arsenal goalie Daphne van Domselaar. ESPN
Barely minutes later, Chelsea striker Alyssa Thompson was on a break down the right wing when she was pulled down by a hair-pull from Arsenal midfielder Katie McCabe.
Chelsea players immediately protested, but their concerns were waved off by Danish referee Frida Klarlund. VAR also did not intervene.
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor was then given back-to-back yellow cards, earning her a red card.
Speaking after the match, Bompastor gave the standard of refereeing both barrels.
"It's clear for everyone: I had one of my players whose hair was pulled," she said.
Chelsea players were left furious after a hair pull on Alyssa Thompson by Arsenal midfielder Katie McCabe was missed by the referee and VAR. ESPN
"I can probably understand that the referee sometimes can't see that, but (what) I don't understand ... it was the same one week ago. Why (is the) VAR not checking that situation? Why are they not going back to that, just checking and having a clear call on that?"
Bompastor was referring to an incident from the first leg, in which a Veerle Buurman goal was scratched by the on-field referee for a push on Laia Codina. It's widely accepted the VAR should have overruled the referee's decision and allowed the goal to stand.
"If they are happy with what happened in the first leg and tonight, that's not good enough," she said.
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Bompastor was given back-to-back yellow cards. Getty
"They shouldn't be happy about that. It's clear for everyone. The only thing we can do is talk about it. I don't think it will change anything, which is really annoying, but I have to mention it just in respect for my players because I think at the end it's tough for them."
McCabe said shortly after the game she was "genuinely reaching for the shirt" and "wouldn't ever want to pull someone's hair".
But Bompastor disagreed.
"I think the intention is clear for me – she tried to grab the hair. And I think for that reason, it's clearly a red card."
The loss almost certainly ends Kerr's quest to win a Champions League. Offered only a "disrespectful" one-year extension on her current contract, Kerr has been heavily linked to move to the US and the National Women's Soccer League to be closer to her wife's family.
Sam Kerr of Chelsea after the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-finals Second Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on April 1, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images) Getty
Kerr missed the first leg of the tie because she played for Australia at the Asian Cup and did not make it back to Europe in time for Chelsea's game.
Australia will still be well represented in the Champions League, with Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord both in the Arsenal starting line-up.
Earlier, Bayern Munich rallied with two late goals in three minutes to beat Manchester United 2-1 and advance to the semi finals on a 5-3 aggregate score.
Glódís Viggósdóttir started the rally in the 81st with a header after a corner kick, and Linda Dallmann fired from inside the area after another corner to send Bayern to its first semi final since 2021.
Making its debut in the quarter finals, United travelled to Germany after losing to Bayern Munich 3-2 in the opening leg at Old Trafford.
The visitors dominated the first half with Melvine Malard putting them up 1-0 after 11 minutes. The France forward used a blunder by Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic to score into an empty net, and equalize the aggregate score at 3-3.
The German powerhouse applied pressure in the second half, but Manchester's defence led by American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce held firm until Viggósdóttir struck.
Bayern will face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the last four.
The remaining two quarter finals are Friday morning (AEDT): Barcelona hosts Real Madrid and leads 6-2 from the first leg; Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead to Lyon.
