Women – OL Lyonnes – Match Report

We came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Lyon in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals on Sunday.

Jule Brand opened the scoring in the first half but, after we had a penalty appeal overturned by VAR, a Mariona Caldentey free-kick trickled into the bottom right to equalise.

In an improved second half performance, Olivia Smith fired us into the lead to provide a one-goal advantage going into next week’s second leg in France.

FIRST HALF

We moved forward with speed early on as Alessia Russo found Emily Fox on the right and her cross came out to Caitlin Foord, who dragged a shot wide of the bottom left.

Lyon took the lead in the 18th minute though, Brand carrying the ball past Kim Little and slotting it into the bottom left for 1-0.

Mariona curled one high and wide from distance in an effort to make a quick response, and it appeared as though our best chance creation in the first half would come by way of Katie McCabe deliveries.

Her 33rd-minute free-kick was headed wide by Lotte Wubben-Moy, before another McCabe cross reached Foord who headed it back across goal but saw the ball trickle wide of the post.

SECOND HALF

We came flying out the traps at the start of the second half, Fox carrying us forward and playing it right to Smith, who fired into the side netting with power.

Little then charge into the 18-yard box and won us a penalty after a foul from Wendie Renard, but it was overturned after a VAR check, with the officials thinking Renard got enough of the ball.

Foord crossed for Smith, who shot straight at Christiane Endler, in another good opportunity to equalise, before Lyon came close to doubling their lead at the other end.

Kadidiatou Diani did well to keep the ball in play and set it up for Korbin Shrader, who missed the target.

In the 58th minute, it was 1-1! Mariona’s free-kick was spilled by the goalkeeper, who was distracted by the run of Stina Blackstenius, into the bottom right. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, much to our relief, and went down as a Ingrid Syrstad Engen own goal, as she failed to clear the danger.

A Mariona free-kick was headed onto the roof of the net by Wubben-Moy, before Lyon came dangerously close to restoring their lead as Diani smashed one off the post on the counter.

Leah Williamson made way for Taylor Hinds with just under 25 minutes to go as Renée Slegers made her first substitution of the afternoon.

It didn’t take long for Hinds to contribute to the attack, sending Foord flying down the left. The latter went for goal from a narrow angle and Endler was equal to it.

Nine minutes left on the clock, we counter-attacked really well and Foord worked her way into a promising position but didn’t do enough with the shot to trouble Endler but then, moments later, we were a goal to the good.

Smith capitalised on a defensive error and rolled the ball across the line into an empy net for 2-1! She then made way for Frida Maanum, as Victoria Pelova came on for Blackstenius.

Foord’s late cross went all the way through towards the bottom right and Endler had to get down to tip it past the post as we pursued more goals, before McCabe’s corner was nodded wide by Russo.

We made more changes in the third minute of six added on as Little and Russo came off for Laia Codina and Smilla Holmberg.