It was an afternoon of missed opportunities for Arsenal as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Lyon in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final. Melchie Dumornay’s late winner silenced the 40,000-strong Emirates Stadium crowd after Mariona Caldentey’s penalty had cancelled out Kadidiatou Diani’s opener.
Joe Montemurro returned to his former stomping ground in north London with a side who are high in confidence, full of star quality and technical brilliance. The eight-times champions are the only side unbeaten in the competition this season, scoring 25 times and conceding only two on the way to the final four.
The fact that there was no space in the starting lineup for the all-time Champions League top goalscorer, Ada Hegerberg, illustrates the potency of this Lyon attack. The dynamic trio of Tabitha Chawinga, Dumornay and Diani all started up front, having amassed 11 goals between them in this competition. The one blow for Montemurro was the absence of Wendie Renard who was fit enough only for the bench. The 21-year-old defender Alice Sombath took her place in defence for only her second Champions League start.
Arsenal themselves have been creatively brilliant at times in recent months and they returned to the Emirates after putting five past Leicester in midweek. There was a big boost for the Gunners with the return to fitness of Alessia Russo who took the place of Stina Blackstenius up front. The England international is in fine form and has six Champions League goals this season, second to only Barcelona’s Clàudia Pina.
The hosts’ nerves were evident from the start as they struggled for rhythm. Loose passes, poor touches and an early yellow card for Caitlin Foord set the tone for much of the first half while Lyon patiently lay in wait to pick Arsenal off with the speed of their attack.
Danielle van de Donk had the first significant opportunity, inexplicably firing into the side-netting with only Manuela Zinsberger to beat. The visitors did not have to wait too long, however, before they found the breakthrough with a Diani goal that exemplified Montemurro’s gameplan. With the Arsenal back line pushing up high, the French international raced through before finishing with aplomb. The hosts thought they had been given a reprieve when the assistant raised the offside flag only to be denied by VAR. The replay showed that Emily Fox had played her onside by inches.
Lyon had found their groove with their front three causing all kinds of problems for the Arsenal defence. The hosts did have a huge opportunity when Frida Maanum sent a free header wide before both sides hit the woodwork – Dumornay and Russo respectively – before the break.
And after half-time a rejuvenated Arsenal took the game to a more sluggish Lyon. A glove from Christiane Endler denied a certain goal from Foord before Russo’s follow-up shot was cleared desperately off the line.
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WSL: Manchester United hopes dented by West Ham
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Manchester United‘s hopes of claiming the Women’s Super League title suffered a setback as they were held in a goalless draw at West Ham.
United bossed possession and kept West Ham under pressure but failed to make it pay against the determined hosts, who threatened themselves late on and were worthy of their point. The result leaves United five points behind leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand and face United on 30 April.
Liverpool moved above Brighton into fifth place with a 2-1 win on the south coast. Olivia Smith turned in an excellent cross from Ceri Holland to open the scoring just two minutes in and Holland set up the second just before half-time, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to tee up Leanne Kiernan.
Nineteen-year-old Michelle Agyemang pulled one back for Brighton at the start of the second half to set Liverpool nerves jangling, but they hung on for victory.
Missed opportunities became the theme of the afternoon for the Gunners who continued to put Lyon’s defence under pressure. Mead headed over the bar from an unmarked position before Maanum did the same just minutes later.
Arsenal were given a reprieve when VAR intervened to award them a penalty. As a corner flew in, Endler had connected with Leah Williamson’s head rather than the ball, leading to the referee, Alina Pesu, to point to the spot. The noise reverberated around the Emirates as Caldentey stepped up to coolly convert her penalty.
The hosts’ joy lasted a mere four minutes, however, as Lyon struck back. A turn of speed from Dumornay saw the young Haitian slice through Arsenal’s backline to ensure her side had the advantage heading into the second leg.
The strike sapped all the energy out of the Emirates crowd and the home players as they succumbed to defeat. These two will meet again in Lyon next Sunday with Slegers’ side knowing they have work to do if they are to turn this tie around.
