The Lyonnaises took a good option for qualification in the competition final this Saturday by dominating the Londonians (2-1).
The Lyonnaises brought back on Saturday from London a narrow and laborious success against Arsenal (2-1) in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, obtained late on a solo breakthrough of Melchie Dumornay.
The 21-year-old Haitian attacker left by herself breaking the English defense (82nd, 2-1) to tear off the victory, four minutes after the well-deserved equalization of the English.
Large accustomed to these summits, OL has taken a step towards an eighth final in ten seasons, but it is a little not far from being decisive, nor very convincing, with regard to the lack of mastery displayed in front of the English.
Carried by 40,000 supporters to the Emirates, the Gunners pushed and dominated the second period until equalizing on a penalty registered by Mariona Caldentey (78th, 1-1).
The Spanish, triple European champion with Barça, maintained the almost intact suspense before the return round, on April 27 in Lyon.
She executed the sentence without trembling, of a perfect opposite, to sanction one of the rare errors made by the Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler, at the origin of the penalty.
On a corner, the Chilean lacked its air outing and struck with her Leah Williamson fist, a load detected by video assistance.
-English waste
Her partners will probably not overwhelm her because, without her, the fate of the match could have been very different.
Endler was distinguished with a courageous and decisive plunge in the feet of Caitlin Foord (52nd), with a release at the foot in front of an opposing attacker (54th) and ultimate head intervention (90th+6) just before the final whistle.
OL turned off the light in the second half and largely undergone exchanges, seeming to rest on the advantage quickly acquired by Kadidiatou Diani (17th, 1-0).
The French striker put his teammates to orbit by taking advantage of a good opening of Ellie Carpenter and, above all, a bad alignment of the defendant Emily Fox who covered the offside.
The visitors had a very poor offensive loot elsewhere. Danielle Van de Donk missed a ready -made goal (6th) and Dumornay almost put another on a beautiful strike out of a distant break that failed on the crossbar (33rd).
Conversely, Arsenal had opportunities for the shovel, but with too much waste in the face of the goal. Frida Maanum (29th), Beth Mead (58th) and Frida Maanum (61st) lacked their heads.
It is both a relief for OL, but also as many reasons for worry.
On the return, the defending finalists could however record the reinforcement of Wendie Renard, unavailable on Saturday due to muscle discomfort.
