Lyon’s reign in the women’s Champions League is over, at least for now. It is possible that the final will see a meeting between the London teams.
Jonne Niemeläinen,
Simo Arkko
10:47•Updated 10:49
Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League after beating Lyon in the second leg. Chelsea broke the path of the reigning champions after dramatic stages in the penalty shootout.
– This victory really increases the team, even though the victory was ugly, Chelsea’s head coach has been for the last ten years Emma Hayes stated.
Lyon have dominated the women’s Champions League in recent years, having won the competition six times in the previous seven years.
A penalty kick in the last minute heated up the emotions
Chelsea was better in the opening half with goals 1–0, but Lyon took the second leg to the follow-up match by Vanessa Gilles on the finish line.
Lindsey Horan found Gilles in front of the goal in the 77th minute. The Canadian made no mistake, but directed the ball into the net from the front corner.
There was enough drama in the follow-up match. Sarah Däbritz gave Lyon the lead in the 110th minute, but Maren Mjelde brought Chelsea level with a penalty kick in extra time. The referee was sentenced after a VAR review.
– This is frustrating and feels wrong, Lyon’s head coach Sonia Bompastor your sum.
Chelsea won the penalty shootout 4–3 and advanced to the semi-finals in front of over 15,000 eyes at Stamford Bridge. In the semifinals, the London club will meet Barcelona.
The German hero guard stepped forward
The home team’s hero in the penalty shootout was the goalkeeper who saved two scoring attempts Ann-Katrin Berger.
– I have never worked with a goalkeeper who saves penalties as well. He is at his best when it really matters, Chelsea head coach Hayes praised the German Berger.
Berger, 32, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer for the second time in August.
– The girls know that I love penalty kicks. It’s fantastic, I’m under no pressure. The pressure is on the other end, I shouldn’t score that goal, said the German goalkeeper, who was chosen as the best player of the match.
Lyon’s reign over?
Chelsea have never won the Women’s Champions League. In the 2020–2021 season, the London club was in the finals, but Barcelona clearly took the longer stage with goals of 4–0.
Lyon are eight-time champions of the Champions League, but now there is no French team in the top four, as Wolfsburg knocked out PSG in Thursday night’s second quarter-final. Wolfsburg and PSG played a 1-1 draw, but Wolfsburg advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
On Wednesday, Barcelona and London’s Arsenal sealed their semi-final places.
The semi-finals of the Champions League will be played on April 22-23. and 29.–30.4. The winner of the Champions League will be decided in the final on June 3 in Eindhoven, Holland.
Women’s Champions League semi-final pairings:
Wolfsburg-Arsenal
Chelsea–Barcelona