Player ratings as late penalty drama sends Blues through

Chelsea emerged victorious over Lyon on penalties within the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals after forcing a shootout with a 128th minute spot-kick to conclude a tense two-hour slog at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night time.

Chelsea had a slim cushion as the sport kicked off, however a late Vanessa Gilles aim squeezed in on the close to put up pressured extra-time, earlier than Sara Dabritz seemed to have sensationally received the tie for the holders in extra-time. But Maren Mjelde had ice in her veins colder than a Norwegian fjord to transform from 12 yards proper on the demise and a VAR-awarded penalty.

The shootout was much more tense, however Ann-Katrin Berger made herself a hero with two saves, the second a decisive one to disclaim American star Lindsey Horan.

Lyon’s Signe Bruun was responsible of snatching at an excellent early likelihood, capitalising on a poor tried clearance from Magdalena Eriksson however missing composure and blazing large. The similar participant additionally did not hit the goal moments later with a tougher volley.

Sam Kerr must have given Chelsea extra respiration room when Lauren James put her through on aim, however Christiane Endler was equal to it – the ball really caught her full within the face. The Lyon goalkeeper was quickly in motion once more when she tipped a fierce James shot over the bar.

Bruun volleyed straight at Ann-Katrin Berger within the closing phases of the primary half and Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor turned to Ada Hegerberg for the second 45 – the enduring Norwegian solely made her long-awaited return as a substitute on the weekend.

As the guests probed seeking to degree the combination score-line, Chelsea seemed susceptible in a approach that they hadn’t actually within the first half. Eriksson risked being caught on the ball in a wrestling match with Danielle van de Donk, whereas Hegerberg was threatening to tune her radar.

With the sport ticking into the ultimate quarter, issues grew to become bitty, which suited Chelsea, though Melanie Leupolz receiving prolonged remedy for a bloody nostril was actually not a nice sight.

But simply as it appeared just like the tie would peter out, Lyon obtained their breakthrough. For all of the technical high quality on the pitch, it was a considerably scrappy close to put up tap-in from Gilles. The Canadian obtained in entrance of Eriksson to attach with Lindsey Horan’s cross and Berger couldn’t preserve it out.

Chelsea upped the tempo and depth after that to attempt to keep away from extra-time on the finish of what has already been a vastly busy month – this was sport seven in March – however there was no breakthrough.

Extra-time was dominated by a transparent fatigue from either side, exhausted from what had preceded. And it was tiredness within the Chelsea ranks that maybe sealed their destiny, failing to cope with a teasing Hegerberg cross from the fitting – Eriksson swung and missed – and handing Dabritz the prospect to fireside a scruffy low shot again throughout aim into the underside nook.

Chelsea had been livid in stoppage time on the finish of extra-time when James went down below strain from Vicki Becho. The referee was un-moved, however a VAR intervention despatched Ivana Martincic over to the pitch-side monitor, pointing to the spot after a prolonged examine. Mjelde had nerves of absolute metal to ship the ball excessive into the nook past the attain of Endler.

Penalty shootout

Chelsea: Mjelde (scored), Kerr (scored), Fleming (scored), James (missed), Carter (scored)

Lyon: Marozsan (scored), Hegerberg (scored), Renard (missed), Dabritz (scored), Horan (missed)

GK: Ann-Katrin Berger – 8/10 – Got a hand to the Gilles aim however could not preserve it out. Probably would have anticipated to be busier exterior the shootout however then confirmed her high quality by saving two.

RB: Eve Perisset – 7/10 – Careful with the ball and an excellent outlet on the fitting. Forced off injured.

CB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 7/10 – Faced totally different sorts of challenges from Bruun to Hegerberg.

CB: Magdalena Eriksson (c) – 4/10 – Struggled greater than as soon as and seemed to be the weak hyperlink within the Chelsea back-line. Not capable of get throughout to Gilles and missed a clearance earlier than Dabrtiz scored.

LB: Jess Carter – 7/10 – Had a stable night time general towards a wide range of threats.

CM: Erin Cuthbert -7 /10 – Worked so laborious simply as you anticipate from her, however fatigue confirmed afterward.

CM: Melanie Leupolz – 7/10 – A grotesque facial damage prematurely ended her night time. it had been a disciplined and combative efficiency as much as that time.

CM: Guro Reiten – 6/10 – Often gave the ball away making an attempt to make issues occurs. Furious with James at one level for not laying the ball off on the counter.

RW: Niamh Charles – 7/10 – Struggled to influence the sport in an attacking sense however did a lot work off the ball for her staff.

ST: Lauren James – 8/10 – Looked the Chelsea participant almost definitely to create one thing, however arguably responsible of eager to do all of it herself at occasions. Won the final gasp penalty. Missed within the shootout.

LW: Sam Kerr – 6/10 – Probably ought to have scored when one-on-one with Endler within the first half and did not hit the goal with others. Got crowded out too many occasions.

Substitutes

SUB: Sophie Ingle (71′ for Leupolz) – 6/10

SUB: Maren Mjelde (73′ for Perisset) – 6/10

SUB: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (91′ for Reiten) – 5/10

SUB: Jessie Fleming (111′ for Cuthbert) – N/A

Manager

Emma Hayes – 7/10 – Had to start out with out Millie Bright once more. This sport actually examined the depth of her squad once more and there have been a whole lot of drained legs on present in the direction of the top.

GK: Christiane Endler – 7/10 – Made vital saves within the first half that stopped Chelsea working up the combination score-line. Commanding within the closing phases too.

RB: Ellie Carpenter – 6/10 – Supplied first rate supply from the fitting and was sturdy within the sort out.

CB: Vanessa Gilles – 8/10 – Scored the aim that despatched the tie to extra-time with a surprisingly composed end. Strong defensively.

CB: Wendie Renard – 8/10 – Repelled every little thing that got here her approach.

LB: Selma Bacha – 7/10 – Always appeared to need the ball and often had her head up trying ahead.

CM: Danielle van de Donk – 8/10 – Seemed to cowl each blade of grass. Tough within the sort out, though arguably lucky not be despatched off when going into challenges on a yellow card.

CM: Damaris Egurrola – 6/10 – Strong on the base of the midfield, however Lyon wanted extra in the event that they had been going to get on the scoresheet – as they later did.

CM: Lindsey Horan – 7/10 – Always prepared for the ball across the field and put Gilles’ aim on a plate for the defender to attain. Unfortunately missed the decisive penalty.

RW: Delphine Cascarino – 6/10 – Got the higher of Carter a couple of occasions however did not make it rely.

ST: Signe Bruun – 5/10 – Missed a lot of possibilities within the first half and was changed on the break.

LW: Amel Majri – 5/10 – Didnt see sufficient of the ball to make a telling influence.

Substututes

SUB: Ada Hegerberg (46′ for Bruun) – 7/10

SUB: Sara Dabritz (56′ for Egurrola) – 7/10

SUB: Vicki Becho (73′ for Majri) – 5/10

SUB: Melvine Malard (97′ for Cascarino) – 5/10

SUB: Perle Morroni (106′ for Bacha) – 6/10

SUB: Dzsenifer Marozsan (106′ for Van de Donk) – 6/10

Manager

Sonia Bompastor – 7/10 – So very practically had her staff within the semis.

Player of the match – Lauren James (Chelsea)