Arsenal vs Lyon LIVE: Gunners edged out in thrilling Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon: A thrilling first leg saw both teams throw caution to the wind but goals from Kadi Diani and Melchie Dumornay bested Mariona Caldentey’s penalty, leaving the Gunners with everything to do in France next week
Melchie Dumornay scored an 82nd-minute winner as Lyon stunned Arsenal to win the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final 2-1 at the Emirates.
Mariona Caldentey had equalised for the home side four minutes prior to the eventual winner after Arsenal, who struggled to replicate the form shown in their midweek 5-1 win over Leicester, had fallen behind to Kadidiatou Diani's goal.
But after Calendtey's penalty, Lyon's front three caused further issues for Arsenal's backline and Dumornay was on hand to steal the win on foreign soil ahead of the return leg next week.
Relive all the action from the semi-final first leg with our live blog below:
PENALTY! Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 75 mins
Williamson tackles Dumornay in the Lyon half to launch another attack, Caldentey flicks a great ball through but the French defence force it out for a corner.
The cross comes in, Williamson throws herself at it with a front-post run but a flick in front of her from Blackstenius means she can’t quite make contact.
Hold on... We’ve got a VAR check for a penalty. Endler tried to punch clear but missed the ball and appeared to make contact with Williamson. The referee jogs over to the monitor and AWARDS ARSENAL A PENALTY! HUGE MOMENT
Arsenal weren’t even appealing but this is a huge lifeline for Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 73 mins
Lyon have steadied the ship a little after that breathless period of Arsenal pressure and chances.
The gunners are still dominating possession but struggling to create another clear-cut chance.
Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 67 mins
Kelly whips in a corner that Endler flaps at, it’s almost through to Williamson at the back post but she can’t connect cleanly. Wow! Arsenal are all over Lyon here.
The French champions react by bringing on the experienced Amel Majri for Van de Donk.
Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 64 mins
Breathless stuff! A rare mistake from Endler as she gives the ball away but scrambles back and seizes on the loose ball when it’s put into the box. She’ll be the most relieved woman at the Emirates.
Caitlin Foord then makes an ill-advised lunge at Diani after losing the ball and brings her down from behind. Foord is on a yellow card already... But the referee decides to give nothing more than a foul. Foord is a lucky, lucky player there - it probably should be a second booking and a red card. She can’t afford to do that again.
CHANCE! Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 62 mins
Another golden chance for Arsenal! Mead puts a header back across goal and Maanum has to score at the back post but can’t quite connect with the header and it dribbles wide.
Looks like it may have been offside anyway but the Gunners had to score.
A couple of Arsenal subs as Chloe Kelly and Stina Blackstenius come on for Beth Mead and Frida Maanum
CHANCE! Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 60 mins
Gorgeous cross from Maanum. Fizzed perfectly into the danger area, Mead ghosts into space, stoops and has a free header but it’s over the bar! That was a big chance - Mead has to hit the target.
Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 58 mins
Little absolutely clatters Dumornay midway in the Arsenal half and the Gunners skipper receives a yellow card for her troubles. Dumornay is receiving treatment from the physios, so we’ve got a break in play.
Eventually, the Haitian is back up on her feet and hobbles to the sideline but she’ll try to continue.
The free-kick is probably 30 yards out, with Heaps and Bacha standing over it. USA captain Heaps takes it and goes for goal but the shot bounces once and is straight into the arms of the grateful Zinsberger. A bit too ambitious there
Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 55 mins
Endler is again so alert as she races out of her area and just beats Foord to a ball, clearing well. The ex-Chile international is so, so good.
SAVE! Arsenal 0-1 Lyon, 53 mins
Good from Arsenal, Fox crosses and it’s nodded behind for a corner. The Gunners fans at the Emirates get VERY loud suddenly - it really has been a great atmosphere today.
McCabe’s corner to the far side of the penalty area is cleared. But it’s back in, Maanum has a shot deflected, Endler rushes off her line, makes herself big and brilliantly stops Foord’s follow-up. Another shot is then cleared by a desperately-lunging defender. That was a really good save by the always-excellent Endler.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments