Jule Brand’s late winner settled an absorbing semi-final to end Arsenal’s defence of their Women’s Champions League title and sent OL Lyonnes through to a record-extending 12th European final.
With the second leg level at 3-3 on aggregate after Alessia Russo’s goal for Arsenal and seemingly heading for extra time, Brand collected Melchie Dumornay’s chipped through ball and tucked a neat finish into the far corner. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but after a three-minute VAR check the goal was given.
The home side were deserved winners, thanks largely to inspired performances from Dumornay and Kadidiatou Diani. With Dumornay seemingly everywhere and the youngster Lily Yohannes pulling the strings in midfield, Lyonnes caused Arsenal extensive problems, especially in the first half with Diani’s pace on the right wing a constant threat.
The eight-time European champions thought they had found an early goal when Lindsey Heaps rose highest and headed in from the back post at a deep corner, but the VAR, after a lengthy delay, ruled Ingrid Engen had been in an offside position in front of the Arsenal goalkeeper, Daphne van Domselaar.
It did not take long for them to open the scoring, though, after another long VAR check, with Lotte Wubben-Moy penalised for a foul in the area on Dumornay, who was simply too quick for her and Emily Fox as she somehow squeezed between them.
