Widely favored, Olympique Lyonnais won by forceps this Tuesday, on the pitch of Benfica Lisbon (2-1), in the quarter-final first leg of the Women’s Champions League. The Lisbon side opened the scoring through Faria (42nd), but the Rhone managed to equalize after the locker room thanks to Cascarino (63rd), before making the difference through Dabritz (79th).
Eliminated to everyone’s surprise by Fleury in the semi-final of the Coupe de France (0-0, 5 tab to 4) before dominating this same team in the championship (4-0), the Lyonnaises were shaken up but made their voice speak. experience against a team that was new to this level of the competition.
At first glance, this quarter-final seemed to be a good draw for OL, eight times winners of the competition, against a team which had never reached the second round of the Women’s Champions League in its history. Especially since the last time a double confrontation between the two teams took place, the eight-time European champions won 10-0 back and forth (5-0 and 5-0).
But in reality, it was much more complicated. Not finding the fault on Le Sommer’s strikes, and Carpenter’s unrecovered crosses, the Gones lacked inspiration in the opposing camp. And this lack of efficiency was punished, they were first warned with this strike on the post from Sanchez Falcon. And what was supposed to happen happened… Gilles lacked power in his pass in the middle for Mbock, who was denied priority by Faria who went to score solo (43rd). At halftime, the French were trailing 1-0.
In the second act, the bad dynamic was here to stay, but ultimately Lyon recovered. After conceding a few chances under pressure from the Benfiquists, the players in blue woke up. First, Diani had chances to score which she missed by tripping over the goalkeeper Pauels. Then Cascarino sowed revolt by equalizing in the 64th minute on a cross deflected by Dumornay.
From that moment on, the psychological advantage changed sides, and the Olympians showed all their power by attacking the opposing cage. A goal from Becho refused later, Dabritz headed a good cross from Horan, and Lyon led for the first time (79th). The Benfiquists were more discreet and victory took shape little by little for OL. With this significant advantage, Sonia Bompastor’s women can think about the return match more calmly. It will be Wednesday March 27 at 6:45 p.m. at Groupama Stadium.