Last season’s finalists Lyon edged closer to the final again with a 0-2 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Tabitha Chawinga’s 35th-minute strike gave Lyon the lead, which they had the chance to double when they were given a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half – but Maria Luisa Grohs saved Lindsey Heaps’ attempt, giving the home side hope.
Despite a stronger performance from Bayern Munich to start the second half, a goal from Melchie Dumornay in the 65th minute doubled Lyon’s lead and cemented their triumph.
As it happened
Bayern began the game with an attack, but Lyon quickly changed the game’s momentum, dominating the first half with multiple chances and corners. Lyon were kept at bay for a time, but in the 35th minute, a loose touch from Linda Sembrant enabled Tabitha Chawinga to power up the pitch and launch a left-footed strike into the right of the Bayern goal.
Lyon kept pushing for the remainder of the half, but couldn’t find the net again. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, the French side got the opportunity to double their lead when Sarah Zadrazil’s late challenge on Ellie Carpenter resulted in a penalty. Lindsey Heaps’ strike was saved confidently by Maria Luisa Grohs, denying the visitors and keeping Bayern in the game.
Bayern came out stronger in the second half and played with much more consistency, but still Lyon managed to subdue their pressure and create attacks of their own. In the 65th minute, Heaps ran between Bayern defenders and delivered a pass straight to the feet of Dumornay, who sent a low, right-footed shot into the bottom left of the net.
Both sides kept pressing after the second goal, but neither maintained the composure needed for their chances to hit home, and the game ended 0-2.
It is not impossible for Bayern Munich to make a comeback, as they face Lyon again on March 26th for the second leg of this tie, but they have certainly made life more difficult for themselves if they intend to graduate the competition’s quarter-final stage for the first time.
The lineups
BAY: Grohs; Gwinn, Sembrant, Eriksson, Hansen; Zadrazil, Caruso; Dallman, Harder, Bühl; Schüller
OL: Endler; Carpenter, Gilles, Renard, Bacha; Egurrola, Heaps, Marozsán; Diani, Dumornay, Chawinga