Arsenal comeback shifts Champions League semi-final balance

Arsenal comeback shifts Champions League semi-final balance Arsenal come back from behind to defeat OL Lyonnes in a frantic game. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Lyon opened the scoring via Jule Brand early on. Arsenal staged a fightback in the second half with an own goal from Ingrid Engen and a clever steal by Olivia Smith to win the game.

They will go to Lyon next weekend with a small but precious advantage. For this Champions League semi-final, Renee Slegers was missing four players, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Beth Mead , who were out for personal reasons, Chloe Kelly , who had a muscle injury , and Steph Catley , who was injured prior to the international break. That meant there were only 18 players available on the teamsheet.

Arsenal could have added two more registered goalkeepers, but having four on the bench was not really necessary. Lyon were also missing a couple of players named on the teamsheet but not fit to play, such as Selma Bacha and Melchie Dumornay . The starting XI was Daphne van Domselaar ; Emily Fox , Leah Williamson , Lotte Wubben-Moy , Katie McCabe ; Kim Little , Mariona Caldentey ; Olivia Smith , Alessia Russo , Stina Blackstenius , Caitlin Foord .

The subs used were Taylor Hinds , Victoria Pelova , Frida Maanum , Laia Codina and Smilla Holmberg . What is interesting is that Slegers has now clearly decided that McCabe is the back-up choice at LCB over Codina, as it happened again when Hinds came on for Williamson. Codina is also now a regular late substitute in the defensive midfield position.