Arsenal came from behind to beat OL Lyonnes 2-1 in North London on Sunday and will take a one goal lead to Lyon for the UWCL second leg next weekend.
Arsenal had welcomed OL Lyonnes on an beautiful sun kissed afternoon to Arsenal stadium, in a match that would pit the reigning against the record European champions. Renée Slegers’ side were without a number of key figures ahead of the tie. Beth Mead was absent for personal reasons for the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi final clash. The Gunners were also missing Steph Catley who was recovering from a calf injury. Chloe Kelly was also absent from the squad with a muscle complaint. On the positive side, Arsenal vice captain, Leah Williamson returned to the Arsenal starting eleven for the first time since mid March in a welcome boost for the home side.
OL Lyonnes sprung a couple of surprises with only one of the front four that masterminded a 2-1 victory over the same opponents earlier in the campaign starting for the French champions. Instead, Jonatan Giráldez opted for a frontline of Kadidiatou Diani, Ada Hegerberg and Jule Brand. That meant Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Tabitha Chawinga and Melchie Dumornay started on the bench. Selma Bacha also started on the side-lines with Sofie Svava starting at left back.
Prior to kick off Katie McCabe was honoured for making her 200th appearance for the club before the international break. That aided the excitement and atmosphere that built around N5 with a crowd of 26,758 in attendance.
The Lineups
ARS: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Russo; Food, Smith, Blackstenius
OL: Endler; Lawrence, Renard, Engen, Svava; Heaps, Schrader, Yohannes; Diani, Brand, Hegerberg
The Action
The early exchanges in North London between two giants of the European game were tit for tat. Ingrid Engen had intercepted a dangerous cross from Emily Fox, diverting the ball only as far as Caitlin Foord but the Australian dragged her shot wide inside the first 10 minutes. Some excellent counter attacking play from OL Lyonnes almost resulted in an opener for the visitors but perhaps the result of one pass too many, the sweeping move was brought to a halt by Fox.
Before the clock struck 20 minutes, German winger Jule Brand gave OL Lyonnes the lead. After Arsenal lost the ball in the midfield as Foord attempted to play it out wide to Olivia Smith. Stepping up, Sofia Svava aggressively intercepted, laying the ball off Johannes who found Brand. Brand took it on, driving at the heart of the Arsenal defence, with the defence caught unsettled Kim Little was left to cover, Brand dropped the shoulder to evade to Scot and strolled into the box, duly finding the bottom corner. Arsenal, who had started in confident manner seemed initially shell shocked by the Lyon opener.
The Gunners rallied as the half drew to a close, Katie McCabe’s lofted ball to the back post found Foord free. The Australian’s header back across goal bounced past agonisingly out of reach of Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo. Arsenal looked to race out of the blocks in the second half. Fox once again set the tempo driving into the Lyon half from deep to set up Smith, the Canadian forced a great near post save from Christiane Endler.
Midway through the half, Slegers’ side thought they had a lifeline when Wendie Renard appeared to trip Little as the Arsenal captain raced into the box, but VAR intervened and Lyon were spared. The Gunners refused to let the wind escape their sails though. McCabe collected the ball on the left side and played the ball to Foord who turned, left then right in the box before cutting the ball back to Smith whose effort was saved by the feet of Endler. OL Lyonnes jabbed at Arsenal in an attempt to deter their relentless charge forward but Korbin Schrader’s effort was lifted over the bar from close range.
The home side got their just rewards for their intent with an equaliser before the hour mark. Endler, who had started the second half so well was unable to gather a Mariona Caldentey free kick put into a dangerous area and saw the Chile number one divert the ball into her own net. OL Lyonnes almost found their way back ahead when Diani was played through on goal, the French striker did everything right, but her finish could only rattle the bar. Arsenal peppered the Lyon goal in response, a near post effort from Foord was well stopped, only shortly after Foord’s close control set up another chance but it was straight at the keeper from the Australian.
Arsenal turned the match on its head with just over seven minutes to play. A mix up between Heaps, Engen and Endler saw Smith capitalise. The Canadian put the ball into an empty net. Arsenal threatened to add another with a dangerous whipped cross from Foord almost sneaking in at the far post. Arsenal had overturned the deficit and would hold the lead ahead of the return leg next week.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 6.5/10 – The Dutch keeper could have done little to prevent the opening goal from the visitors and had little to do after that.
RB: Emily Fox – 8/10 – Arsenal’s best player on the day. Always an outlet, ready to bomb forward at any given opportunity, carried out her defensive duties diligently. Drove Arsenal up the pitch throughout.
RCB: Leah Williamson – 7/10 – Did well to win an early foot race against Ada Hegerberg. Her range of passing always adds another dimension to her game.
LCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 7/10 – Performed impressively when facing up against Hegerberg and Diani one on one.
LB: Katie McCabe – 7.5/10 – McCabe was inverting into the midfield to good effect when Arsenal were in possession. Moved to centre back with 25 minutes to play, it is hard to imagine an Arsenal currently so relant on McCabe be without her in September.
CM: Kim Little – 7/10 – Arsenal’s lynchpin, she needed to be defensively stronger for Lyon’s opening goal. For all the benefits of a ball playing double pivot, defending is at times left wanting.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 7.5/10 – Her inventive cross caught OL Lyonnes out and levelled the tie.
RW: Olivia Smith – 8/10 – The Canadian had been fouled three times within the first 15 minutes. She kept on going and never let her head down, was fouled five times in the match as a whole, scored the decisive goal.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 7/10 – Constantly providing Arsenal with an option on the wing, her running stretched Lyon even if at times her end product can be lacking she was often at the heart of the chances they did create. Had more successful dribbles than anyone else.
SS: Alessia Russo – 7/10 – In typical Russo fashion this term’s UWCL top scorer linked up Arsenal’s play in the OL Lyonnes half. Did not get much of a sight at goal however.
ST: Stina Blackstenius – 6/10 – Had a couple of poor early touches, helped Arsenal work a way into the match even if it wasn’t a particularly memorable performance.
SUBS
Taylor Hinds (67′ Williamson) – 7/10 – Hinds helped stabilise the match for Arsenal and keep momentum running in their favour.
Frida Maanum (84′ Blackstenius) – N/A –
Victoria Pelova (84′ Smith) – N/A –
Laia Codina (90′ Little) – N/A –
Smilla Holmberg (90′ Russo) – N/A –
Lyon Player Ratings
GK: Christiane Endler – 5.5/10 – Did not have a save to make in the first half but made three smart early second half stops. Undid that hard work with an awful mistake for Arsenal’s equaliser. Ultimately her mistake costed her side.
RB: Ashley Lawrence – 6/10 – Foord ran her ragged for much of the match, not her best showing.
RCB: Wendie Renard – 7.5/10 – Was a rock at the back for the visitors, performances like this make it difficult to fathom how she could be not selected by France. Her pace was exposed as the match wore on however.
LCB: Ingrid Engen – 6/10 – Made a crucial early block in the box with Smith ready to pounce. Evidently has a great partnership with Renard however struggled in the second half but was not helped by her team mate.
LB: Sofie Svava – 6.5/10 – Largely managed the threat of Smith well early on, but was at times allowed to by poor refereeing. Stepped up brilliantly to help create OL Lyonnes opener.
CM: Lindsay Heaps – 5,5/10 – Terrible pass handed Arsenal the lead on the day, had done okay prior to that moment.
CAM: Korbin Schrader – 7/10 – Worked to shield the backline and support Heaps when Lyon were out of possession. Made a couple of key tackles inside her own half.
CAM: Lily Johannes – 6/10 – The star at the top of OL Lyonnes’ all American midfield, Johannes had a quiet afternoon by her high standards.
RW: Kadidiatou Diani – 7/10 – The striker was lucky not to be booked by an extremely lenient referee. Should have given OL Lyonnes the lead with 25 minutes to play.
LW: Jule Brand– 8/10 – Has performed well at this ground before, coming off the bench against Arsenal in the semi final in 2023. It was Brand who opened the scoring for the visitors, expertly assessing the situation, dropping the shoulder and precisely finding the bottom corner. Nutmegged Mariona at one point in the first half, won more tackles than anyone in the first half, no player won more duels the entire afternoon. Faded sharply in the second period.
ST: Ada Hegerberg – 5.5/10 – The all time top scorer in the Champions League struggled to have any impact on the match.
SUBS
Damaris Egurrola (65′ Johannes) – 6/10 – The Dutch international could do little to quell Arsenal’s momentum.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (67′ Hegerberg) – 6/10 – Came off the bench to little effect for the visitors.
Vicky Becho (77′ Brand) – 6.5/10 – Was dogged after coming on, intent on making a difference couldn’t bring the team with her.
