Chelsea lose Women's Champions League semi-final first leg at Lyon

Advantage: Lyon
REUTERS
Standard Sport21 April 2019

Five-time Women's Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais claimed the early advantage after they beat Chelsea 2-1 at home in their semi-final first leg on Sunday.

A Magdalena Ericsson own goal and a strike from midfielder Amandine Henry in the first half put the defending champions 2-0 ahead before Erin Cuthbert pulled one back for the visitors after the break.

At Lyon's Groupama Stadium, Delphine Cascarino's shot was deflected in off Chelsea defender Ericsson in the 27th minute to give the hosts the lead.

Henry headed the ball into the far post from a corner to make it 2-0 after 38 minutes.

It was a perfect start for the hosts, but Chelsea were awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime after Ramona Bachmann was brought down, only for goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi to save Fran Kirby's spot kick.

The Blues were still in the mix, however, and Cuthbert volleyed home an away goal in the 72nd minute which Chelsea hope will prove decisive in the second leg next Sunday in London.

In Sunday's other semi-final, Barcelona took an away goal advantage from their 1-0 victory at Bayern Munich as they seek to reach a maiden Champions League final.

Kheira Hamraoui's second-half strike was enough for the Catalans, who might have taken a bigger lead back to Spain for next Sunday's second leg were it not for some profligate finishing.

Reporting by Reuters.

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