Olivia Smith felt an improved second-half performance was key to our success in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Lyon in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
Jule Brand’s 18th-minute opener had us a goal behind going into the break at Arsenal Stadium, but we came flying out the traps at the start of the second half to put our opponents on the back foot.
That pressure paid dividends as Mariona Caldentey forced an Ingrid Syrstad Engen own goal, before Olivia Smith pounced on a defensive mistake to put us in front.
“I thought it was a great team performance,” she said after the game. “I think we definitely picked it up in the second half and showed what we’re about.
“I think going into half-time, we just discussed a lot of what we need to improve on and I think we definitely brought that alive in the second half with our pressing and choosing our moments.
“This is only half-time and there’s still another leg to go.”
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Report: Arsenal Women 2-1 Lyon
As for her goal, Smith sniffed out the danger, put the pressure on and, in the end, simply had to roll the ball across the line and into an empty net to provide a one-goal advantage.
“When we can just put as much pressure on as we can, that’s what we want to do,” she said.
Next up, we’re back in N5 for the visit of Leicester City on Wednesday, and Smith feels the Barclays Women’s Super League title race isn’t over yet, after Manchester City dropped points to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
“I think we still have an opportunity and we just have to make the most of it,” Smith added.
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