Report: Olympique Lyon 1-4 Arsenal (inc. goals)

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

Arsenal will play Barcelona in the Champions League final after beating Lyon 4-1 in the second leg, winning 5-3 on aggregate.

Renée Slegers made two changes to last weekend’s team, with Chloe Kelly replacing Beth Mead, and Daphne van Domselaar returning to goal in place of Manu Zinsberger, after a faster than expected recovery from an ankle injury. There was also a place for Lotte Wubben-Moy on the bench.

Arsenal started on the front foot, and had the first chance. Foord intercepted and combined with Russo, who held the ball up on the edge of the box for Little, whose left footed shot was parried by Endler for a corner.

From the corner, Arsenal leveled the tie on 5 minutes. Kelly’s corner was missed by Endler, and was headed by Egurrola, under pressure from Maanum, onto Endler’s back and it trickled over the line. 0-1.

Lyon almost equalised on 4 minutes. Van Domselaar came for a corner, but couldn’t catch. She went after the ball, palming it, but the ball came to Renard, with van Domselaar out of the net. Renard, though, shot over the bar.

Foord, running at Carpenter, went beyond her international teammate before shooting straight at Endler, while at the other end, McCabe did well to stick tight to Diani and block a cross out for a corner.

On 26 minutes, Arsenal should’ve scored again. Mariona intercepted Gilles’ pass, and crossed into the penalty box for an unmarkedRusso, who headed wide.

Neat play from Arsenal saw the Gunners build from the back and across from the right before Foord slipped in McCabe, but her cross was cut out by Renard.

From a free kick, Bacha’s shot went close, landing on the top of the net with Van Domselaar frozen. Lyon, though, having been second best for most of the first half were upping the intensity, with Dumornay and Diani having shots blocked.

Mariona Caldentey gave Arsenal the lead on aggregate in the first minute of first half stoppage time. The move had looked like it fizzled out with too many Arsenal players central. Mariona, though, took a pass on, and from the edge of the penalty box fired a shot into the top corner. 0-2.

Bacha was slipped in behind Fox and crossed for an unmarked Egurrola, who headed straight at Van Domselaar, who gathered at the second attempt.

Alessia Russo extended Arsenal’s lead in the first minute of the second half. A mix up from Lyon defensively led to Foord, slipping, to play to Maanum. A richochet came to Russo, who, from the inside left, shot, with Endler only able to get a touch. 0-3.

Russo turned Gilles and shot low, with Endler getting down to save. At the other end, Catley headed away a Bacha cross. Carpenter ran onto the ball, and shot from distance, with the shot wide of Van Domselaar’s post.

Hegerberg headed for Chawinga, who played back to the Hegerberg, who shot quickly, but straight at Van Domselaar, who saved.

McCabe made a vital block on the hour mark. Bacha’s corner was floated to the back post. Renard headed down to Dumornay, who hit on the half volley. Her shot was goalbound, but McCabe blocked it on the line and Arsenal cleared.

On 63 minutes, Caitlin Foord made it 4-0 on the night after another massive Lyon error. Endler played short to Gilles on a goal kick. Gilles slipped, Foord ran on to it, and fired into the roof of the net. 0-4.

Egurrola somehow escaped a second yellow after bringing Russo down.

On 71 minutes, Stina Blackstenius and Beth Mead replaced Russo and Kelly.

With Lyon freestyling, there was plenty of space for Arsenal to exploit, but Maanum, on multiple occasions, couldn’t get the pass right.

Lyon pulled a goal back on 81 minutes. Carpenter’s cross was headed by Little down, but it came straight to Dumornay, who fired past Van Domselaar. 1-4.

From a corner, Lyon went short, before the cross came in for Marozsan. Van Domselaar came and didn’t reach the ball, but Marozsan headed over.

On 87 minutes, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Lotte Wubben-Moy replaced Mariona and Frida Maanum. Van Domselaar was booked for time-wasting.

Little won the ball on the edge of the Lyon box, but Arsenal couldn’t work an angle to shoot.

There was 5 minutes of stoppage time.

Carpenter looked to play Diani in, but Wubben-Moy made the intervention.

In the 92nd minute, Katie Reid replaced Katie McCabe.

Carpenter played in another dangerous cross, and first Le Sommer and then Majiri tried to get on it, but Little was able to clear. There was a penalty check for handball, but after a long check the game played on.

Lyon attacked again, and Bacha crossed, and Le Sommer attempted a bicycle kick that went well over. Le Sommer won a corner, and then the referee finally blew for full time, and Arsenal were through to the Champions League final!

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