Chelsea 1-2 Lyon (2-2 on agg, 4-3 on pens): Blues claim DRAMATIC win
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Chelsea won a dramatic penalty shoot-out to make the semi-final of the Champions League by knocking out reigning champions Lyon after Maren Mjelde had equalised with the last kick of extra-time.
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who recovered from thyroid cancer for a second time after being diagnosed last summer, was the hero saving penalties from Lindsey Horan and Wendie Renard as Mjelde, Sam Kerr, Jessie Fleming and Jess Carter scored to give the Blues a 4-3 victory.
Chelsea’s progression to the semi-final after Arsenal’s victory on Wednesday means it is the first time two clubs from the same city have reached this stage of the competition.
They had looked to be heading out of the competition after Sara Dabritz had put Lyon 2-1 ahead on aggregate in the 120th minute.
But they were given a lifeline when Lauren James was tripped in the box in the final seconds of extra-time. Referee Ivana Martincic did not point to the spot but was sent to review the incident on the VAR monitor.
Chelsea claimed a dramatic quarter-final win against Lyon, winning 4-3 on penalties at Stamford Bridge, after Maren Mjelde’s late spot-kick deep into extra-time forced a shootout
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The official overturned her decision and awarded a penalty. Emma Hayes could not watch but instructed her fans to cheer for her player as she stepped up. Mjelde responded, scoring emphatically into the top left corner. She then converted the first spot-kick in the shoot-out.
Chelsea had led 1-0 from the first leg and were 13 minutes from progressing but were pegged back when Vanessa Gilles levelled on aggregate with a close range finish in the 77th minute.
It was Lyon who had the momentum in extra-time as Cheslea tired and the French champions looked to have scored the winner when Dabritz fired a controlled finish into the bottom right corner.
But Chelsea refused to give up and James’ driving run was rewarded when she drew a foul from substitute Vicki Becho.
Both teams scored their first two penalties before Berger saved from Renard to give Chelsea the advantage. James then missed to give Lyon a way back in as Dabritz levelled.
Cater scored the Blues final penalty, meaning Horan had to convert to force sudden death. She failed, as Berger made another fantastic save to end a historic night at Stamford Bridge.
Hayes said of Berger after the match: ‘She’s someone who thrives in big moments.
‘She’s done that her entire career. She’s probably the best penalty saving goalkeeper I’ve ever worked with so I felt really confident going into the penalty shootout, even if I didn’t look it.
‘Every day [in training] everyone always hates going up against her. I felt this was her moment after everything she has gone through.’
