Melchie Dumornay’s late strike fired Lyon to a 2-1 win against Arsenal in the women’s Champions League semi-final first leg on Saturday.
Arsenal trailed to Kadidiatou Diani’s opener for Lyon before Mariona Caldentey hauled the hosts level at the Emirates Stadium.
But after Calendtey’s penalty, Dumornay was on hand to bag the priceless winner ahead of the return leg in France next week.
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Arsenal looked a shadow of the side that mounted a fightback from two goals down against Real Madrid in the last round as Lyon took the lead in the 17th minute.
There was a sense of physical vulnerability from the Gunners’ defence against Lyon’s front three and that was demonstrated when Diani held her line, burst away from her marker and drilled a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Frida Maanum missing a free header from yards out summed up a frustrating start for the north Londoners as Lyon continued their onslaught.
Lyon’s press prevented Arsenal from finding rhythm with their players accustomed to the luxury of sides sitting deep against them in the Women’s Super League.
After Selma Bacha and Dumornay pressured Emily Fox into a loose pass on halfway, the latter spotted Manuela Zinsberger off her line and sent a lobbed effort onto the crossbar.
Arsenal’s Alessia Russo was also denied by the crossbar, setting the tone for a strong spell from the Gunners after the break.
Maanum once again failed to guide a free header on target from Beth Mead’s cross in the 61st minute.
Arsenal finally drew level in the 78th minute when a VAR review deemed Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler’s attempt to punch the ball connected with Leah Williamson and was worthy of a penalty.
Caldentey stepped up and buried her spot-kick with ease to give Arsenal hope of a valuable victory.
But a fatal lapse of concentration let Dumornay surge through a gap in the Arsenal defence in the 82nd minute and her composed finish gave Zinsberger no chance.
Matildas Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord both started for the Gunners with Catley playing all 90 minutes, while Foord was subbed off in the 84th minute.
Their national teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross was an unused substitute for the hosts as Ellie Carpenter, who missed the Matildas’ recent friendlies with South Korea due to an ankle injury, played the entire game for the eight-time European champions.
Catley, who captained the Matildas against Korea, has expressed her frustrations with the national team still not having a full-time coach after Tony Gustavsson stepped down after last year’s Paris Olympics, and the defender was snapped post-match chatting to Lyon boss Joe Montemurro in the tunnel.
The Australian manager, who has previously won titles with Arsenal, Juventus and Melbourne City, is seemingly the preferred candidate for the Matildas job and perhaps the national gig was discussed post-match as Carpenter was also in the background of the conversation.
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