Lyon qualify for Women’s Champions League final with semi-final win over PSG | OneFootball

Although they were trailing by a goal halfway into their Champions League semi-final tie against Lyon, PSG’s impressive home record this season – unbeaten since November – will have given them reason to believe ahead of this Sunday’s second leg at the Parc des Princes.

Last week’s first leg had seen Jocelyn Prêcheur’s side take a two-goal lead, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto scoring either side of half-time. Just as PSG looked to be heading towards a first win over their arch-rivals in five games, though, Lyon staged a six-minute comeback in the closing stages of the game – with Diani, Dumornay, and Majri all finding the net to turn the tie on its head.

At the Parc des Princes, the visitors would waste no time in extending their overall lead. Two minutes in, Selma Bacha caught out Constance Picaud – who was ostensibly expecting a cross to the back post from the full-back – with a long-range strike that crept through and into the bottom right corner.

PSG would dominate possession throughout the first half, but fell short of cutting through a resilient Lyon defence. Instead, it was Sonia Bompastor’s side who came close to doubling their lead on the day. Van de Donk was almost handed a one-on-one chance by Dumornay on the half-hour mark – the Haitian’s through ball coming up just short of the fomer Arsenal midfielder – while a reflex save from Picaud at her near post kept a deflected Cascarino cross out a few minutes later.

As has often been the case this season, it was Tabitha Chawinga who eventually found a way through for the hosts, the Malawi forward finding the far corner from a tight angle after Lyon lost possession in midfield. Les Fenottes would be denied a swift response by another improbable Picaud stop, this time from a 20-yard Kadidiatou Diani strike.

The PSG goalkeeper was decisive again straight after half-time, winning her one-on-one battle with Melchie Dumornay after the striker beat Gaetino to rush through on goal. The striker’s follow-up effort would be blocked by Gaetino, before Horan’s shot cleared the bar. The French international would den the Haitian again ten minutes later, this time atoning for spilling Van de Donk’s initial shot by getting across in time to block a powerful, close-range strike.

Lyon eventually broke through an increasingly nervy PSG defence, though, and doubled their aggregate lead fifteen minutes from time, with Dumornay scoring her second of the tie. With De Almeida losing the ball high up the pitch, the former Reims striker found Becho, whose cross was directed into the middle by Majri for Dumornay finish the move off unopposed.

The final ten minutes saw the visitors ride out a late wave of PSG attacks, extending their unbeaten record over the capital side to seven games and securing their ticket for Bilbao next month. Lyon will not have been at their thrilling best, but against a spirited PSG team, their continental experience ultimately made the difference. The only team standing between Les Fenottes and a record-extending ninth Champions League title, now, will be arguably their toughest opponent yet in holders Barcelona.

PSG: Constance Picaud – Thiniba Samoura, Eva Gaetino, Élisa De Almeida, Sakina Karchaoui – Grace Geyoro, Jackie Groenen (Korbin Albert, 84′), Sandy Baltimore (Lieke Martens 84′) – Jade Le Guilly (Amalie Vangsgaard, 74′), Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Tabitha Chawinga.

Lyon: Christiane Endler – Ellie Carpenter, Vanessa Gilles, Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha (Perle Morroni, 89′) – Lindsey Horan, Damaris Egurrola, Daniëlle van de Donk – Kadidiatou Diani (Vicki Becho, 74′), Melchie Dumornay, Delphine Cascarino (Amel Majri, 46′).

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – from the Parc des Princes