Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Smith, Russo, Foord; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Votikova, Borbe, Holmberg, Codina, Harwood, Hinds, Pelova, Maanum
Arsenal have beaten OL Lyonnes 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final. OL Lyonnes took the lead in the first half, but the defending Champions of Europe played brilliantly in the second half, and took advantage of two defensive miscues to score twice and turn the tie around.
With Steph Catley, Beth Mead, and Chloe Kelly all unavailable, Leah Williamson partnered Lotte Wubben-Moy in defence while Caitlin Foord and Olivia Smith started out wide, with Alessia Russo behind Stina Blackstenius.
Arsenal had a good chance on 6 minutes. Russo found Fox outside, and her cross was just touched away from Smith by Engen. The ball came all the way across to Foord, who shot wide of Endler’s near post.
Lyonnes broke quickly, with Diani being found and going one v one against McCabe. She was held up, and tried to slip in Yohannes, but a loose touch allowed Fox to get around on the cover and clear.
OL Lyonnes took the lead on 19 minutes through Jule Brand. Svava intercepted Foord’s pass and played into Yohannes who passed to Brand. She drove through the middle, beat Little, and though Van Domselaar got a slight touch the shot had too much power. 0-1.
Lyonnes were firmly in control with Arsenal playing far too desperately. On 36 minutes, Hegerberg looked to break into the box, but Wubben-Moy won the ball back.
On 40 minutes, Arsenal nearly equalised. From a corner, Arsenal kept the ball, and Mariona found Blackstenius on the edge of the box. She skipped into the box, but Renard prevented her from shooting. The ball came to McCabe who crossed to the far post where Foord headed back across goal but wide.
In the second half, Smith hit the side netting on 50 minutes. Fox picked up possession and burst forward through the middle. She slipped the ball to Smith, but her shot went wide of Endler.
A minute later, Blackstenius and then Smith had shots blocked. Then, Little drove into the box, went down under Renard’s challenge, and the referee gave a penalty. Renard looked to have gotten a touch on the ball, and the referee, after being sent to the monitor, changed her original decision.
Arsenal, though, kept the pressure on, and Foord, in the box, got past Lawrence and then cutback to the penalty spot where Smith met the pass but shot straight at Endler, who pushed the ball away.
On 56 minutes, Diani got the ball on the goal line as Wubben-Moy couldn’t shepherd it out for a goal kick. Diani passed back to Shrader, who shot over the crossbar.
Arsenal equalised on 58 minutes. McCabe won a free kick on the left. Mariona took the free kick and played it low toward Blackstenius. She never touched the ball but distracted Endler, and Endler fumbled the ball and it went in. After a VAR check, the goal was given. 1-1.
Wubben-Moy stepped up into midfield to win the ball off Diani, took a stepover, and was then fouled by Diani. Mariona’s cross found Wubben-Moy by the far post, but she headed over.
On 66 minutes, Katoto, on as a substitute, intercepted Williamson’s pass then played Diani in behind. Fox came across to put Diani under pressure but she shot and rattled the crossbar.
A minute later, Williamson was replaced by Taylor Hinds, with McCabe going to centre back.
Hinds found Ross down the left, and her cross for Blackstenius was blocked out by Engen.
Foord, played down the left by a long Hinds ball, drove into the box and shot from a narrow angle with Endler blocking the shot.
Arsenal should’ve taken the lead on 82 minutes. Mariona’s excellent ball found Blackstenius. She looked to slip in Smith but the pass was blocked. Foord sprung onto the pass, turned past Lawrence, but shot low and straight at Endler, who saved.
On 83 minutes, Arsenal took the lead. Heaps’ back pass was missed by Engen, and Smith looked to jump onto the ball. Endler blocked the ball away as she collided with Engen, and Smith got onto the loose ball and rolled it into the net. 2-1.
On 84 minutes, Arsenal made a double change. Frida Maanum and Victoria Pelova replaced Smith and Blackstenius.
Foord’s deep cross on 88 minutes went all the way through, and Endler had to parry out for a corner.
Mariona lost the ball under pressure from Shrader, who played into Diani. She was held up by McCabe and then saw her shot blocked by Wubben-Moy.
6 minutes were added on at the end of the second half.
Lyonnes won a corner as Svava’s cross was blocked by Pelova. From the corner, Becho took advantange of an an Arsenal slip to drive to the goal line and cross, with Van Domselaar claiming the cross.
Arsenal made a final two changes on 93 minutes, with Kim Little being replaced by Laia Codina and Alessia Russo being replaced by Smila Holmberg.
In the final minute, Endler played a long ball, Arsenal won the header and then Maanum slipped Foord in behind. She had to shoot from range, with Endler saving, with the referee blowing for full time. Arsenal are now 90 minutes away from a second straight Champions League final.