Olympique Lyonnais beat OL Park against Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final. A 1-0 win that allows the defending European champions to win this double-confrontation and aim for a fifth European title, the third in a row, on May 24 in Kiev. A performance that would be new in the competition.


==> [UWCL, 1/2 go] Man City - OL (0-0): The Cityzens keep the title holders in Lyon


At kickoff, some changes on the side of both teams, with the establishment of Camille Abily midfield, while Amel Majri found his position of side in the left lane. Saki Kumagai also lined up in front of the defense after returning from Jordan and his recent win with Japan in the Asian Cup.

In Manchester City, Nick Cushing relied on the same starting lineup as in the first leg, with Isobel Christiansen again in front row, alongside Nikita Parris and Melissa Lawley.


Lyon was of attack


In the first minutes of play, the defensive strength of the Cityzens is quickly put to the test, with first corners, on which Parris and Demi Stokes must intervene to avoid opening the score (4th). Kicks that continue to bring chills in the Mancunian surface, with a header from Wendie Renard free kick that passes close to the frame (6th).

The Lyonnaises are also trying their luck mid-distance as the shot by Amandine Henry, who hits the goal after winning the ball in the feet of Jill Scott. His attempt goes very close to the left post (12th). Dzsenifer Marozsan also tries his luck at about twenty meters, and it also passes close to the frame (16th).


So many alerts, sign of Lyon's desire to quickly take the lead. It was done in the 17th minute, with one action from the left, and a counter-flown shot by Abily that found Amel Majri over the defense still in the left lane. In the surface, Majri addresses a long center that reaches Lucy Bronze at the far post. With time and space, the English side places a splendid outside of the right foot which finds the opposite small net. Karen Bardsley relaxes but must bow to her former teammate.


Lyon and Lucy Bronze euphoric after the goal


This goal has the merit of releasing Lyon which expresses itself better and better over the minutes. Amandine Henry found the post in the 20th minute, Lucy Bronze alert Karen Bardsley (22nd), two actions left side right, like this very good move in the 29th minute on which we find, Ada Hegerberg, Dzsenifer Marozsan who alert Amel Majri opposite side, but his shot is diverted by Abbie McManus for a corner.

Lyon reigns, and Lucy Bronze is on a cloud like this action in the 36th minute when she made a crazy breakthrough in the heart of the defense but forgot to serve one of his teammates demarcated in the box!

Karen Bardsley makes a last foot parade before the break against Hegerberg while City seemed to wait for the break in the final minutes of the first act, without solution to the euphoria Lyon.


Manchester City stayed in touch but did not come back


At the end of the locker room, Lyon seems ready to continue his recital with a lot of movements, combinations of passes that leave from the sides and the danger that seems to settle around the goal of Karen Bardsley. Camille Abily particularly influential is close to doubling the advantage of OL, taking the head of a center left Majri, the ball misses the frame (50th).

After these first minutes in one direction, City is gradually emerging from its shell, and we remember that a single goal would be enough for the happiness of the Cityzens. A situation that encourages the rearguard of Lyon vigilance, like the counter of Lucy Bronze on the hit Georgia Stanway (58) or this exit Sarah Bouhaddi ahead of Nikita Parris (60) in the game. back of the defense. At the end of the match, Nick Cushing made the choice to play with a real tip, Nadia Nadim, to try to snatch this decisive goal.

But Lyon keeps the ascendant and control of the ball, Kheira Hamraoui (68th) and Ada Hegerberg (78th) try their chances, without success. On the other side of the field, Claire Emslie's strike late in the game (88th) fails to worry Sarah Bouhaddi.


At the end of the 90 minutes, Lyon is on the way to a new European final, the third in three years, and the possibility of establishing a little more its supremacy on a European stage where all the opponents of the OL seem today desperate to win against the Lyon armada. A reign that continues until at least May 24 and the final of the Champions League in Kiev.

 

Match sheet


Sunday, April 29, 2018, 2:45 pm - Lyon (Parc OL) - Champions League (UWCL) - Semi-final (back).

Olympique Lyonnais - Manchester City 1-0 (1-0)

Cumulative score: 1-0 (0-0 in the first leg)


Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary)

Purpose: Lucy Bronze (17th)

Warning : /


The teams :

Olympique Lyonnais: 16-S. Bouhaddi - 22-L. Bronze, 29-G. Mbock, 3-W. Fox (cap.), 5-S. Kumagai, 7-A. Majri, 26-A. Henry, 23-C. Abily (11-K Hamraoui 68th), 10-D. Marozsan, 14-A. Hegerberg, 9-E. The Sommer.

Coach: Reynald Pedros


Manchester City: 1-K. Bardsley - 23-A. McManus, 6-S. Houghton (cap.), 5-J. Beattie, 3-D. Stokes, 24-K. Walsh, 8-J. Scott, 11-I. Christiansen (22-C Emslie 81e), 17-N. Parris, 7-M. Lawley (10-N Nadim 66e), 12-G. Stanway.

Coach: Nick Cushing


Photo: Jeff Pachoud / AFP