Report: Arsenal 1-2 Olympique Lyonnais (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Mead, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Substitutes: Williams (GK), Wälti, Kafaji, Kelly, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Cooney-Cross, Reid

Arsenal will have it all to do in France after Lyon beat the Gunners in the first leg of the Champions League 2-1.

Renée Slegers made one change to the team that ran out winners against Leicester on Tuesday night. Alessia Russo was deemed fit to start, so Stina Blackstenius returned to the bench. Chloe Kelly was also named on the bench.

Maanum had an early shot for Arsenal, but Lyon could’ve gone ahead in the 6th minute. Bacha shot from distance and Zinsberger parried in front of her. Van de Donk was first to the rebound, but shot into the side netting, sparing Zinsberger’s blushes.

On 17 minutes, Diana was played in behind Catley and McCabe by Heaps.. She drove into the box and fired her shot across Zinsberger. The flag went up, but after a VAR check, the goal was given, with Fox playing Diani onside. 0-1.

Diani, leading another transition, toyed with Catley before crossing to the back post, with Fox blocking Dumornay’s header behind for a corner.

Arsenal should’ve leveled the score on 29 minutes. Foord crossed from the left, and Mead headed back across goal. Maanum, in front of goal, headed wide.

Mead lost the ball on the halfway line, and Dumornay, seeing Zinsberger off her goal line, audaciously tried to score from about 40 yards, with her shot going off the crossbar.

In stoppage time, Arsenal hit the bar. Mead took a free kick short to McCabe, whose dinked cross found Russo, with the looping headed going off the top of the bar.

Both teams were unchanged at half time.

After a corner, Maanum shot. Her shot was blocked but ran to Foord, with Endler coming out quickly to save her shot. The rebound came to Russo, who shot with her left, and a Lyon defender blocked.

On 59 minutes, Mariona skipped around midfield and found Maanum out wide. She crossed, finding Mead in the box, but she headed over from close range.

Another deep cross found Mead, who headed across, but Maanum couldn’t make a clean connection in front of goal.

On 63 minutes, Stina Blackstenius replaced Frida Maanum and Chloe Kelly replaced Mead.

On 75 minutes, Arsenal won a corner. Endler came but was beaten to the ball by Blackstenius, whose header evaded Catley at the back post, as Endler made contact with Williamson. After a VAR check, the penalty was given.

Mariona took the penalty, and sent Endler the wrong way. 1-1.

Kelly was found by Mariona, and she drove before firing over the bar.

The referee, poor throughout, didn’t give Foord one of the most obvious free kicks on the edge of the penalty box and in a flash, Lyon re-took the lead on 82 minutes. Heaps combined with Majiri who found Dumornay running through the middle. Dumornay continued, held off Fox, and fired past Zinsberger. 1-2.

After the goal, Pelova and Wälti replaced Russo and Foord.

Majiri found Diani, who shot from a narrow angle. Zinsberger parried the shot, and Catley beat Majiri to the rebound, as the match entered 5 minutes of additional time which Lyon, using their experience, saw out.

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