On the lawn of Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique Lyonnais already seems to have provided the essential in this 1 / 8th final of the Champions League. A 4-0 win for Wendie Renard's teammates who have fully mastered this game and logically win in the Netherlands.

For this new 1 / 8th European finals, holders of the title Lyonnaises offered an unprecedented poster against Ajax Amsterdam, double-champion of the Netherlands and now to discover Europe. This is the first time Ajax has reached this stage of the competition for its second participation in the Champions League.
 

The private Ajax balloons
At home, Ajax came with a very defensive formation, and without Kelly Zeeman, the Dutch international knee injured before the match. A centerpiece less for Ajax, but difficult tonight to think that the outcome of the match could have been different. On the Lyon side, Amandine Henry was also absent because of her injury in the French team, while Dzsenifer Marozsan was back in the group, starting the game on the bench.

The Lyon players quickly take control of the ball, facing a team Ajax positioned very low, and often moving with five defenders including trying to block the Lyon accelerations on the side.

It was not until ten minutes to see the first shot (Lyon) of the match. Amel Majri is served by Le Sommer on the left side and repels in the axis to aim for the goal of Lize Kop, his attempt passes flush with the right post (11th). In the wake, Majri will open the score for OL, on a ball won by van de Sanden.

Amel Majri again decisive
Her Dutch teammate, Kika van Es, prevaricates in the right side and van de Sanden can steal the ball and center for Majri. The international tricolor puts in the wind Vita van der Linden with a fake of the right shot and can then place the ball of the left foot out of range of Lize Kop (12th, 0-1).

The Lyons influence is confirmed over the minutes, even if the shots of Eugénie Le Sommer (15th) and Ada Hegerberg (17th) are this time captured by Lize Kop. But at the approach of half an hour, Eugénie Le Sommer gets a free kick ideally placed at 16 meters against the goal. An opportunity perfectly seized by Selma Bacha, shifted by Amel Majri, and who places a left-foot shot to deceive Lize Kop, not helped by his wall on this action (27th, 0-2).

In the last quarter of an hour, Lyon seems to manage this first advantage, which allows Ajax out of his half of the field, but without managing to worry Sarah Bouhaddi. For her part, Eugénie Le Sommer is close to adding another goal with a shot to 25 meters that fails on the crossbar (38th).
 

A comfortable mattress for OL, Marozsan has returned
In the second half, Lyon regains control of the ball, and ends up adding a new goal before the hour of play. It is thanks to a new free-kick that Lyon can take off. Provoked on the left side by Selma Bacha, he is struck by Izzy Christiansen and at the entrance of the six meters it is Ada Hegerberg who dives to place his head (57th, 0-3).

A goal that amplifies the advantage of the Lyonnaises and allows them to manage the last half hour, much less lively. An end of the match which also sees the entry of Dzsenifer Marozsan, absent since the beginning of season following a pulmonary infection. It is also found on the fourth goal Lyon scored late in the game by Christiansen.

Served in the right lane after recovering the ball in midfield, Lucy Bronze can then center in the Ajax's surface. Wanted at the far post, Dzsenifer Marozsan passes the ball to Izzy Christansen who can conclude from right against goal (89th, 0-4).

Total success for the Lyonnaises, with new situations in the game stops but the score will remain there. Qualification for the quarters seems already in a very good way not to say almost assured. A result that remains to be confirmed with the return match to be played in two weeks in Lyon.

Photo: UEFA

Match sheet
 

Wednesday 17 October 2018, 7 pm - Duivendrecht (De Toekomst) - Champions League (UWCL) - 1 / 8th finals

Ajax Amsterdam - Olympique Lyonnais 0-4 (0-2)
 

Referee: Pernilla Larsson (Sweden)

Goals: Amel Majri (12th), Selma Bacha (27th), Ada Hegerberg (57th) and Isobel Christiansen (89th)

Warning : /

The teams :
Ajax Amsterdam: 1-L. Kop - 2-L. van der Most, 24-L. Akkerman, 22-L. Roddik, 5-K. van Es, 12-V. Van Der Linden, 10-L. Bakker (6-Munsterman), 9-E. Janssen, 8-I. Salmi (3-C, Dijkstra 89th), 18-S. Verhoeve, 21-V. Lewerissa (20-E Bakker 73rd).

Coach: Benno Nihom

Olympique Lyonnais: 16-S. Bouhaddi - 2-L. Bronze, 29-G. Mbock, 3-W. Fox, 4-S. Bacha, 5-S. Kumagai (10-D Marozsan 63e), 8-I. Christiansen, 9-E.

The Sommer, 11-S. van de Sanden (27th E Lawrence 77th), 7-A. Majri (24-J Fishlock 63rd), 14-A. Hegerberg.

Teacher: Reynald PedrosHichem Djemai