Chelsea rallies to beat Real Madrid 2-1 and finish top of its Women's Champions League group

United States striker Catarina Macario entered as a halftime substitute and converted two penalties for Chelsea in a 2-1 win over Real Madrid that helped the English club finish top of its Women’s Champions League group with a 100% record on Tuesday.

Madrid was already sure of qualifying for the quarterfinals along with Chelsea, but needed a win at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to go through as the Group B winner.

The Spanish team was on course for victory when Caroline Weir opened the scoring in the seventh minute after her shot could only be parried onto the post by Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and into the net.

Macario was brought on at halftime and made a huge difference, with her incisiveness leading to a penalty when she was tripped by Olga Carmona.

The Brazil-born Macario curled a right-footed shot high into the net in the 51st minute and converted a second penalty into almost exactly the same spot in the 56th after Chelsea midfielder Wieke Kaptein flicked the ball into the outstretched left hand of Carmona.

Chelsea won all six of its group games and has yet to lose this season under new coach Sonia Bompastor. In the Women’s Super League in England, Chelsea has won nine games and drawn the other.

Another team to wrap up group play with a maximum 18 points was Lyon, the eight-time champion, after a 1-0 victory at home to two-time winner Wolfsburg. Danielle van de Donk scored in the 81st.

Both teams had already qualified, with Lyon guaranteed to win Group A.

Roma beat Galatasaray 3-0 in the other Group A game, while Twente defeated Celtic 3-0 in Group B. All four of those teams had already been eliminated.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid's Caroline Weir, left, celebrates with her teammates after scoring the first goal against Chelsea during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Caroline Weir, left, celebrates with her teammates after scoring the first goal against Chelsea during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Chelsea's Catarina Macario, left, and FC Twente's Danique van Ginkel battle for the ball during the Women's Champions League group B match between Chelsea and FC Twente at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Catarina Macario, right, celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal from penalty during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Signe Bruun, right, reacts as Chelsea's Catarina Macario scoring a goal from penalty during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Chelsea's Catarina Macario, left, celebrates after scoring a goal from penalty during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Chelsea's Catarina Macario, right, celebrates after scoring a goal from penalty during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Chelsea's Catarina Macario, left, scores the second goal from penalty during the women's Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

BRISTOL, England (AP) — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher made her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team in front of a record home crowd of 9,240 fans on Sunday.

But Maher, “ the most followed rugby player on the planet,” could not prevent Bristol from losing 40-17 to defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match.

She came on as a substitute in the 61st minute at Ashton Gate with Bristol trailing 28-10. Maher made her presence felt in a couple of rucks and looked for work off the wing but could make little impact to the overall picture in her 20 minutes on the field.

The previous attendance record for a Bristol women’s home match was 4,101 against Harlequins in May 2022. Such was the anticipation surrounding Maher's debut that Bristol relocated the match from a smaller venue to Ashton Gate to satisfy demand for seats.

The 28-year-old Maher, who helped lead the U.S. to the bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Games, has signed a three-month contract with Bristol in southwestern England. She had begun training with Bristol in December when the team announced the signing before going back to the United States for the holidays.

Maher has more than 8 million followers combined on Instagram and TikTok. She was a runner-up on the “Dancing With The Stars" TV show.

The Vermont native is returning to the 15-a-side game in hopes of boosting her chances of making the U.S. team for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. She can play at wing or center.

Bristol also said the attendance was a record for a stand-alone game in the Premiership. League-leading Harlequins said they set a women’s club rugby record for attendance on Dec. 28 when 18,055 fans watched the team beat Leicester Tigers 42-17 at Twickenham Stadium. That was not a stand-alone match; it was part of a doubleheader with the Harlequins men’s team.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher during the Premiership Women's Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester Hartpury at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher ahead of the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury in Bristol, England, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher during the Premiership Women's Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester Hartpury at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher during the Premiership Women's Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester Hartpury at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, Sunday Jan. 5, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)