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Defending champs, Arsenal ladies crash out of Women’s UCL
02nd May, 2026 07:43 PM
Arsenal’s Champions League title defense is over as they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Lyon in their semifinal, with the French side deservedly winning the second leg 3-1.
Arsenal had taken advantage of Lyon’s errors in the first leg to take a 2-1 lead into Saturday’s game, but the hosts offered an entirely different prospect to the somewhat conservative showing last weekend.
One of those differences was the returning Melchie Dumornay – having missed the last four games through injury, gave Arsenal the runaround.
VAR Intervention
The Haiti international won a 16th-minute penalty for the hosts after being fouled by Lotte Wubben-Moy. The spot kick was not given initially, but after a lengthy VAR review, which hinged on whether the Arsenal defender had touched the ball before the player – the referee overturned her own on-field decision and gave the penalty.
Lyon captain Wendie Renard had her first effort saved by Daphne van Domselaar, but as Arsenal attacked at the other end, the referee blew her whistle to retake the penalty after the goalkeeper was spotted off her line.
It was a long walk back down the field, but Renard’s mentality won out. She went the same way with the second effort, but the Arsenal stopper could not keep it out this time as Lyon levelled on aggregate.
It was a deserved goal for the hosts, and they doubled their second-leg lead soon after. It was a wonderful finish from Kadidiatou Diani, losing Kim Little before lifting a leg and steering the ball home from a tight angle.
Arsenal ended the first half with just one shot, which was off target, but rattled the woodwork in quick succession around the hour mark, Blackstenius and Olivia Smith finding the post on either side.
With 15 minutes to play, Alessia Russo, with the Gunners’ first shot on target—smuggled her way through the middle of Ashley Lawrence and Lindsey Heaps to poke home Smilla Holmberg’s cross.
But VAR was not done with this one yet, and it was another marginal call that decided the game. Dumornay picked out Jule Brand on the right of the area. It was a wonderful control and finish from the German international, but the flag was up for offside.
Dramatic scenes
It took three minutes of VAR and semi-automated offside checks to decide that Brand was onside, the top of her shirt in line with the back of Wubben-Moy’s foot.
It put Lyon 4-3 ahead on aggregate and won it in the most dramatic of circumstances, ending the Gunners’ pursuit of a second successive Champions League trophy.
For their part, Lyon are in a 12th European final, chasing their ninth title. They will face either Bayern or Barcelona in the final on May 23 in Oslo.
The two sides play their second leg on Sunday and are currently drawn 1-1 on aggregate.
Their men’s side will return to action after settling for a one-all draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
