Arsenal vs Lyon live: Gunners’ Women’s Champions League defence begins with defeat to eight-time champions
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon: Renee Slegers’ side endured a poor start to the defence of their European title, with defensive howlers costing them at Meadow Park
Arsenal’s defence of their Womens’ Champions League title got off to an inauspicious start as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to eight-time champions Lyon.
Alessia Russo put the hosts in front at Meadow Park with a sweetly-timed shot from an excellent Beth Mead pass, just seven minutes into proceedings.
But two terrible defensive errors cost them dearly, with keeper Daphne van Domselaar at fault for Lyon’s equaliser as Melchie Dumornay latched onto a poor pass out of the area.
Five minutes later Dumornay secured the double, with Lyon closing down Mariona Caldentey and playing it forward to Haiti international, who planted a screamer past van Domselaar.
Arsenal had chances to get back into it but ultimately could not break down a superb Lyonnais defence, with the French giants continuing their formidable unbeaten start to the season.
Follow all the latest build-up, team news and minute-by-minute updates from the match in our live blog below:
'We are among the favourites' - Melchie Dumornay
Double scorer Melchie Dumornay, speaking via an interpreter, tells Disney+: “It was a tough match. It’s important to win our first game away from home. But it’s a long competition and we have to keep improving as we go.
“Of course we were motivated to put things right after last season [the semi-final defeat]. We put everything into it and got the result.
Asked whether they are now the favourites to win it, she demurs. “We are among the favourites. There are lots of good teams. We need to keep working hard and improving on the pitch, because that’s what matters.”
'We showed resilience' - Kim Little
Kim Little tells Disney+ it was “not the result we wanted”.
“But there were positives to take, especially after our previous performances in the league. We made mistakes but we showed resilience to stick in it to the end.
“We keep going, we keep working together. We know it can’t be perfect all the time. We’ll come back stronger. We’ve got such quality in this team, as we’ve shown on many occasions.
“It’s a different format,” she says of the new Swiss-style league system. “With that comes a cup final every match.”
FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
Arsenal complete a lap of honour, while Lyon applaud their travelling support and are congratulated by omnipresent owner Michele Kang.
Alessia Russo got the hosts off to a perfect start but two poor defensive errors contributed to a Melchie Dumornay brace, all inside the first half-hour, and that proved enough to settle things at Meadow Park.
Not the start to their title defence the Gunners were hoping for.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
Defeat for Arsenal as they begin their title defence.
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
90+5 mins: Arsenal have a late, late free-kick. McCabe floats it in, it eventually falls to Foord, who lashes it just wide!
Arsenal have a shout for handball, but it’s denied. The fans chant for VAR. VAR are happy with it.
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
90+2 mins: It’s sent to a very congested area by the far post, and Van Domselaar does enough to keep it out.
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
90+2 mins: Six minutes added on.
Smith trips Brand and Lyon have a free-kick, just to the left, 20 yards out, in a very promising position...
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
90 mins: Yohannes barges over Smith. This hasn’t been the prettiest half of football, it has to be said.
McCabe finally gives Endler something to do after a fairly quiet spell, forcing a quick save.
Arsenal 1-2 Lyon
87 mins: Hinds is replaced by McCabe.
Five minutes left for Arsenal to try to find something and Lyon to cling on.
Yohannes shoves Little over as she tries to keep possession.
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