Chelsea pull off statement Champions League victory in Lyon

Chelsea illustrated their credentials as genuine Women’s Champions League contenders with a thoroughly mature away performance to beat holders Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final.

Starting the night five games away from European glory as their campaign resumed for the knockout phase, Chelsea grabbed a priceless advantage ahead of the second leg next Thursday, thanks to Norway winger Guro Reiten’s curled first-half finish. A two-legged semi-final against either Roma or competition favourite Barcelona awaits in the next round if Emma Hayes’ team can now avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The ultimate prize, Saturday 3rd June’s final in Eindhoven and the dream of being the first British club to win a women’s European title since 2007, is now a step closer.

Lyon – the most successful team in this competition’s history with a record eight titles – will undoubtedly raise their game in the reverse leg. But beating Lyon for the first time is a hugely significant statement, and highlighted Chelsea’s ever-increasing growth and experience in Europe.

The scoreline could have been even better for Chelsea, who hit the post through England’s confident young star Lauren James, and who saw Sam Kerr fired wide from a big chance in the second half, while Lyon struck the woodwork through Delphine Cascarino and applied pressure on Hayes’ side late on.

Chelsea’s goal was excellent, and summed up the skill-set of their Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert. She won the ball with a strong tackle, nutmegged Lyon’s Damaris Egurrola and then rolled a perfectly-weighted, ‘no-look’ pass into the path of Reiten, who bent her shot into the corner.

The only note of concern for Chelsea was an injury suffered in the first half by England centre-back Millie Bright, who hobbled off in discomfort after twice receiving treatment on the pitch. That could also be a worry for the Lionesses, who host Brazil and Australia in friendlies in April, as their World Cup preparations continue.

Match details

Lyon (4-3-3): Endler 6; Carpenter 6, Gilles 5, Renard 6, Morroni 6 (Bacha 7, 55); Horan 7, Egurrola 6, Marozsan 7 (Van de Donk 6, 55); Cascarino 7 (Malard 7, 69), Le Sommer 6 (Becho 7, 46), Dabritz 6 (Majri 7, 69)
Subs not used: Belhadj (gk), Hegerberg, Sombath, Cayman, Bruun, Benyahia
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Berger 7; Perisset 7 (Mjelde 6, 85), Buchanan 6, Bright 6 (Eriksson 6, 44), Carter 6; Leupolz 7, Ingle 7; James 8 (Rytting Kaneryd6, 85), Cuthbert 8 (Charles 6, 71), Reiten 7; Kerr 7
Booked: Ingle, Cuthbert
Goal: Reiten 28.
Subs not used: Musovic (gk), Orman (gk), Fleming, Abdullina, Cankovic
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
Attendance: 18,751