Defeated last Thursday in Wolfsburg (1-0), the Lyonnesse OL was able to overturn the German club this Thursday evening at the Groupama Stadium (4-0, a.e.t.). The Fenottes will face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the competition, just like last season.
Before this Champions League quarter-final return match, Jonatan Giraldez had shown great confidence: “We also need to look at the reality of our situation, in 36 matches this season, we have only had a few draws and one defeat. This team is used to winning. We don’t need to revolutionize everything to win tomorrow (this Thursday). We just need to rely on our recent matches to regain our balance,” warned the Catalan coach of OL.
His players showed that they had understood the message, as the course of the match was clear: possession and scoring opportunities for the Lyonnesse OL, suffering for a dominated Wolfsburg side (who did not attempt a single shot in the first half against 16 for the home team). It was just after the quarter hour of play that the Lyonnesse OL equalized over the two legs, thanks to the goal scored by Lily Yohannes. Positioned backwards, the American controlled and struck from outside the penalty area, with the ball redirecting off Minge, wrong-footing Johannes (16th). Suffocated, Wolfsburg returned to the dressing room having only conceded one goal, which was rather justified considering the Lyonnesse OL’s domination.
A replay of last season’s semi-final
After the break, the Lyonnesse OL continued to play their football, monopolizing the ball (over 60% possession). Korbin Shrader tested Stina Johannes with a shot from outside the box (54th), and the Wolfsburg goalkeeper then denied Selma Bacha with a great save (57th). On their first shot of the match, Wolfsburg came close to a heist but Levels’ shot was fortunately pushed away by a decisive Engler (77th). The Lyonnesse OL, on the other hand, ran into a flawless Stina Johannes who diverted Selma Bacha’s free-kick (85th).
It took an extra time during which Vicki Becho missed the target when faced with an empty goal (96th) and was flagged offside, resulting in the disallowed goal by Marie-Antoinette Katoto (98th). Logically, OL finally scored the insurance goal from a corner marked by Stina Johannes’ missed exit, which Melchie Dumornay capitalized on, relieved by a VAR decision as she clearly touched the ball with her arm to protect herself (2-0, 105th). Shortly after, the Lyonnesse OL extended their lead thanks to Damaris Egurrola’s winning header (3-0, 106th) and the solo goal scored by Tabitha Chawinga (4-0, 119th). The Lyonnesse OL will indeed play their 15th Champions League semi-final and it will be against Arsenal (April 25 and May 2). Arsenal, the reigning European champion, eliminated the Lyonnesse OL last season at the same stage of the tournament (2-1; 1-4).
