Chelsea win dramatic shootout vs Lyon and reach Women's Champions League semis
Chelsea will face Barcelona in the semi-final of the Women's Champions League after a dramatic penalty shootout win over holders Lyon.
The eight-time champions from France forced extra-time after a narrow 1-0 win in the 90 minutes, before substitute Sara Dabritz struck in extra time. But Maren Mjelde ensured the tie went to penalties after she converted a last gasp spot-kick, following a VAR review.
In the ensuing shootout, Ann-Katrin Berger became the Blues hero as she saved twice, including Lyon's final spot kick from Lindsey Horan, as Chelsea triumphed 4-3. It was a fitting moment for the keeper, who began the season with the news her thyroid cancer had returned.Emma Hayes' Blues reached the final back in 2021 and will join fellow WSL side Arsenal in the semi-finals. Chelsea face Barcelona while Arsenal take on Wolfsburg.
Sam Kerr and Lauren James both went close in the first half but Lyon levelled the tie on aggregate with just 13 minutes to play when Vanessa Gilles got on the end of Lindsey Horan's centre to squeeze the ball past Ann Katrin-Berger at the near post.
That took the tie to extra-time, where the Blues lost out thanks to Dabritz's dramatic intervention with just ten minutes to go. But England star Lauren James won a last gasp penalty after she was tripped in the box - awarded thanks to VAR - handing Mjelde the chance to force a shootout.
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Here are the talking points from Stamford Bridge.
Extra-time shows fine margins
This was the only one of the four quarter-final ties to go to extra-time and perhaps that was no surprise. The two squads are incredibly closely matched and like the first leg last week, this was a game settled on marginal differences.
Once Gilles' header levelled the tie on aggregate it always felt like this would go this distance. Neither team wanted to overcommit and leave themselves exposed in the extra 30, meaning chances were few and far between.
Lyon's Delphine Cascarino and Chelsea's Jess Carter battle for the ballBut Lyon took the only moment presented to them when substitute Dabritz found room in the penalty box and dragged a shot past Berger. That looked to have won the tie, but Lauren James was tripped in the box, with VAR giving Chelsea a late lifeline.
Maren Mjelde converted to send the tie to a penalty shootout.
Berger comes up big in shootout
Chelsea scored four of their five penalties, only James failing to convert after her weak effort was saved by Christiane Endler. But thankfully for Emma Hayes and her team, stopper Ann-Katrin Berger made two huge saves to settle the tie.
Firstly she kept out Lyon's iconic captain Wendie Renard. Then Lindsey Horan was denied to send Stamford Bridge into raptures.
It was a tie that always seemed likely to be settled by the finest of margins. In a way it was fitting for it to come down to one kick of the football. But Chelsea live to fight on and will now believe this is their year.
Chelsea survive early scares
Lyon were wasteful in the first leg last week and were again guilty of missing chances in the early stages of this one.
Delphine Cascarino had two huge chances inside five minutes, forcing a spilled save from Ann Katrin-Berger. The wide forward then somehow blazed over from close-range after a scuffed clearance from Chelsea skipper Magda Eriksson.
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The holders fast start also saw Signe Brunn shoot just over the bar only seconds later. In a tie decided by tight margins, Lyon's failure to take their chances eventually proved fatal.
Lyon celebrate their late equaliser at Stamford Bridge against ChelseaMillie Bright's absence again keenly felt
Euro 2022 winner Millie Bright failed to return to the starting line-up, eight days on after limping out of the first leg with a knee problem. Bright was at Stamford Bridge, seen smiling and joking before kick-off, but her absence on the pitch was keenly felt by the Chelsea defence.
As with the game at Man City, Eriksson partnered Kadeisha Buchanan, but the pair once again looked a little vulnerable. The Chelsea skipper recovered well after her early error gave Lyon a clear cut chance, but Buchanan looked slightly off the pace.
Even the goal that took the game to extra-time may have well be prevented by Bright, had she been on the pitch. As a side plot, the centre-back was named in the England squad earlier this week.
But manager Sarina Wiegman said this would only be on the proviso of Bright successfully coming through her treatment at Chelsea. Will we see her in England white next week?
Hegerberg introduction helps turn tide for Lyon
Other than Chelsea supporters, most fans of the women's game will have been delighted to see Lyon's Ada Hegerberg back in a matchday squad. And the former Ballon d'Or winner was thrown on by Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor at half-time with the holders needing a goal to stay in the tournament.
Although Lyon's crucial equaliser eventually came through centre-back Vanessa Gilles rather than Hegerberg. Her presence unsettled the Blues backline and gave the holders an edge up top.
When the Lyon equaliser came Stamford Bridge was stunned into silence. From then on, the holders looked like favourites to win the tie. Thankfully Chelsea had other ideas courtesy of their last-gasp rally.
Hayes shows European pedigree
Emma Hayes' popularity is west London is never in doubt. But the Chelsea boss has faced criticism for the way their European campaigns have ended.
In 2021 they reached the final only be trounced 4-0 by Barcelona. And last season Hayes' team capitulated in their final group game at Wolfsburg, losing 4-0 and crashing out.
For a squad of Chelsea's quality it wasn't good enough, but this season Hayes has got every big call on the continent right. Her team managed the game superbly throughout the two games, not an easy task after taking the lead so early in the tie.
Emma Hayes talks to her players during Chelsea's second leg with LyonHer deployment of Lauren James in a central role, with Niamh Charles coming in to sure up Chelsea down the right proved crucial. The Blues were able to maintain a tight defensive shape, yet still ensure Sam Kerr wasn't overly isolated up front, as she had been in the defeat to Man City.
Barcelona beckons for Blues
This was something of a watershed night for Chelsea. By knocking out a team that have dominated European women's football for so long, they have made a major statement on the continent.
They will now face Barcelona over two legs for a place in the Eindhoven final. The Spanish giants are the only side other than Lyon to have won the European crown since 2015.
If Chelsea can repeat the trick against Barca they will be firm favourites to finally win the Champions League.
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