OL Lyonnes - Arsenal: Through to the Champions League final after an epic win! (3-1)

Highlights

17’ A brilliant forward surge from Lily Yohannes, who played a perfectly timed ball into the path of Melchie Dumornay. The referee pointed to the spot after a foul inside the box by Arsenal. Wendie Renard saw her first penalty saved, with the goalkeeper off her line too early, the penalty was retaken.
21’ GOAL! Wendie Renard kept her composure and confidently converted the retake, opening the scoring for OL Lyonnes.
36’ GOAL! From a corner, Jule Brand picked out Kadidiatou Diani at the back post. The forward struck a superb volley to double the lead.
75’ Arsenal pulled one back.
88’ GOAL! Melchie Dumornay delivered an outstanding pass to Jule Brand, who controlled it before finishing with great composure. Initially flagged offside, the goal was eventually awarded after a VAR review.

Summary

From the opening minutes of this second-leg semi-final, OL Lyonnes showed their intent, quickly taking control of possession and driving forward. It didn’t take long for the first Lyon chance to arrive: played through by Kadidiatou Diani, Ada Hegerberg went for the goal but couldn’t direct her finish, having strayed offside.

That dominance was confirmed moments later from a set piece. Selma Bacha delivered a pinpoint corner onto the head of Lindsey Heaps, who thought she had opened the scoring. However, after the referee’s intervention, the goal was ruled out due to an offside position from Ingrid Engen inside the box.

Sharp and on the front foot, Lyon kept applying pressure and were rewarded following a brilliantly worked move. Lily Yohannes played a perfectly timed through ball to Melchie Dumornay, winning a penalty after a foul in the box by Arsenal. Wendie Renard initially saw her effort saved, with the goalkeeper penalised for coming off her line too early. The Lyon captain made no mistake with the retake, calmly slotting home to open the scoring (21’’ 1-0).

Far from sitting back, Lyon kept pushing and doubled their lead from another set piece. From a corner, Jule Brand picked out Kadidiatou Diani at the back post, who fired home a superb volley (36′, 2-0).

Focused, dominant and clinical, Lyon headed into the break with a deserved lead, capping off a first half they had fully controlled.

After the restart, the team had to deal with the expected response from Arsenal. Te Gunners quickly looked dangerous, hitting Lyon with a double scare in the 58th minute, a first effort crashing against the crossbar, followed by another strike off the post. In the end, both chances came to nothing, as each move was ruled out for offside.

Looking to inject fresh players, Jonatan Giráldez made a double substitution shortly after the hour mark. Ada Hegerberg made way for Marie-Antoinette Katoto, while Lily Yohannes was replaced by Korbin Albert.

OL Lyonnes eventually gave in to the pressure, as Arsenal pulled one back in the 75th minute, setting up a tense finish (75’’ 1-2).

Further changes followed for Lyon, with Lindsey Heaps and Kadidiatou Diani coming off, replaced by Damaris Egurrola and Vicki Becho.

As the tension rose in the closing minutes, Lyon proved clinical when it mattered most. Following a brilliantly worked move, Melchie Dumornay delivered a top-quality pass to Jule Brand. The German controlled it before finishing with composure past the goalkeeper. Initially ruled out for offside, the goal was eventually awarded after a VAR review, sparking celebrations across the squad (88’’ 1-3).

After a long period of stoppage time, Lyon sealed their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Oslo, following a hard-fought second half that they managed perfectly in the decisive moments.

Pagination

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Match sheet

At Groupama Stadium
UEFA Women’s Champions League (semi-final second leg): OL Lyonnes – Arsenal
Referee: Ferrieri Caputi
Sanctions: Renard (48’) for OL Lyonnes ; Wubben-Moy (19’), McCabe (22’), Foord (95’) for Arsenal
Goals: Renard (21’), Diani (36′), Brand (86′) for OL Lyonnes ; Russo (75′) for Arsenal
OL Lyonnes: Endler, Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Bacha, Heaps (Damaris), Dumornay, Yohannes (Shrader), Diani (Becho), Hegerberg (Katoto), Brand
Arsenal: van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Caldentey (Pelova), Little, McCabe (Kelly), Smith (Holmberg), Foord, Russo, Blackstenius (Leonhardsen-Maanum)