Valuable success for Lyon, Arsenal qualified despite defeat
Olympique Lyonnais players imposed themselves on Arsenal’s lawn (0-1) this Thursday in London. A feat achieved on the occasion of the fifth day of the group stage in the Champions League, which allowed OL to maintain their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals. In turn, “Arsenal” is already in the 1/4 finals …
As expected, the qualification for the 1/4 final stage of the Champions League will be decided on the last day for Sonia Bompastor’s players. They are in a more favorable position in Group C with three wins in a row, twice against FC Zurich and then tonight against Arsenal.
“Lion” is approaching the 1/4 finals
A success that allowed us to forget the 5-1 defeat against the same Arsenal team in Lyon on the first day. This result is also encouraging, while OL just lost the lead in D1 after losing the match (0-1) to Paris Saint-Germain. In terms of accounting, Lyon are even with Arsenal at the top of this Group C, but above all, they have a two-point lead over Juventus of Turin.
Indeed, first place will be hard to argue for Lyon due to their particularly unfavorable goal difference compared to Arsenal. So it will take a poor performance from the Gunners in a week on the grass in Zurich to allow Wendie Renard’s team-mates to claim victory. “Arsenal” has already qualified for the 1/4 finals, only to determine their place between the first and second places.
Lyonnaises, on the other hand, are now in a strong position to at least secure second place, ahead of Lyonnaises’ final opponents Juve on Wednesday at the Parc OL. There were very few real chances for either side in this evening’s game in London, even if it was the Lyons who made the best impression by being more accurate in their initiatives and trouble often prevailed.
A cracking game before the break
However, we will have to wait to see the first real chance with Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy’s header from a corner just above the frame (23).e). As half-time approached, it was Lyon who got the push and Steven Cutley got in a crucial tackle to deny Delfin Cascarino of the opener (45).e).
But a few seconds later, Lyon intervenes after a free kick. On the surface, Arsenal’s defense can’t be cleared quickly enough and Vanessa Gilles is able to head the ball across the face of the goal. Melvine Malard, who is offside, cannot return the ball in the air, but keeps Frida Maanum behind, who directs the ball into her own goal (45+1).
The lucky goal was Arsenal’s first strike since the injury to Vivianne Miedema. The Netherlands international finds himself lying on the ground, his left leg in a splint, before being taken off on a stretcher (45+7).
Arsenal are a ton below
Apart from Katie McCabe’s not-so-dangerous strike on the way back from the dressing room, nothing goes well for Arsenal, who react bravely (49e). And while the Gunners are confident of continuing their continental adventure in the spring, they take this narrow defeat in stride as it does not prevent them from holding their fate in Group C.
Substitute Eugénie Le Sommer for Lyon with a powerful half-volley, pushed back by Manuela Zinsberger, well placed in front of her line (57)e). Arsenal finally looked dangerous late in the match when Lina Hurtig’s rebound was pushed back on the line by the Lyon defense (90)e).
Therefore, the game ends with this short success for the Lyonnaises, a real step forward towards the quarters, which must now be confirmed on Wednesday, when Juventus host Turin.
Photo: Arsenal FC
Match sheet
ThursdayI 15 December 2022, 21h – London (Emirates Stadium) – Champions League (UWCL) – Group stage (Group C – 5e daytime)
Arsenal- Olympic Lyon : 0–1 (0–1)
Judge: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain)
Purpose: Frida Maanum (45+1) [csc])
Warning : Katie McCabe (84)e)
Teams :
Arsenal : 1-M. Zinsberger – 26-L. Wienreuther, 6-L. Williamson (cdn.), 3-L. Wubben-Moy, 7-S. Catley, 12-F. Maanum, 13-L. Valti, 15-K. McCabe (8-L. Hurtig 85e), 11-V. Miedema (2-Rafaelle 46e), 19-C. Ford, 25-S. Blackstenius. Trainer: Jonas Eidevall
Olympic Lyon : 1 C. Endler- 18-A. Sombath, 21-V. Gilles, 3-V. Fox (cap), 5-P. Morroni, 11-D. Equrrola, 26-L. Horan, 17-D. van de Donk (6-A. Henry 46e), 20-D. Cascarino (27-V. Becho 90+3), 4-S. Bacha (23-J. Cayman 80e), 28-M. Malard (55-E. Le Sommer 55e). Trainere : Sonia Bompastor
