Chelsea record historic UWCL quarter-final victory over Lyon | OneFootball

Chelsea have taken a step towards qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League’s semi-finals with a historic 1-0 victory over Lyon at the Groupama Stadium this evening.

Guro Reiten’s first half goal was enough to separate the two sides and send Chelsea back home to London with a narrow advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.

As you would expect from European champions, Lyon showed plenty of attacking intent early on with Eugénie Le Sommer looking particularly lively in the final third. The French forward forced Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger into a routine save while the visiting defenders were prepared to put their bodies on the line to block shots.

The deadlock was broken by Chelsea in the 28th minute with their first effort on target. Erin Cuthbert played a delightful pass to Reiten who curled the ball into the far corner of the Lyon net.

Chelsea almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Lauren James took aim from distance but her shot cannoned off the post.

A hugely successful first half did end on a sour note for the South West Londoners with centre-back Millie Bright hobbling off with a suspected knee injury minutes before the half-time whistle.

Cuthbert tested Lyon keeper Christiane Endler early in the second half before the hosts piled on some pressure as they searched for an equaliser. Vanessa Gilles and Sara Däbritz both sent headers wide, either side of a Delphine Cascarino effort which failed to beat Berger.

At the other end, Cuthbert tried her luck but she was unable to direct her shot on target before Sam Kerr also fired wide.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Cuthbert both testing Endler before Lyon defender Wendie Renard sent a header wide. Chelsea held out for the victory which sends them into next week’s second leg in a commanding position.

Chelsea’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg tie takes place at Stamford Bridge next Thursday evening.