Chelsea 1-2 Lyon (2-2 on agg, 4-3 on pens): Blues claim DRAMATIC win

Chelsea 1-2 Lyon (2-2 on agg, 4-3 on pens): Blues edge DRAMATIC Champions League quarter-final on penalties to knock out holders – after forcing the shootout with the last kick of extra time at Stamford Bridge

  • Vanessa Gilles’ 77th minute strike for Lyon forced extra time at Stamford Bridge
  • Midfielder Sara Dabritz netted in the 110th minute for the reigning champions 
  • But Maren Mjelde’s dramatic spot-kick deep into extra-time forced penalty kicks

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 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

Lyon centre-back Vanessa Gilles levelled the scoreboard on aggregate with a brilliant finish

The Canadian’s strike in the 77th minute broke the deadlock and forced extra-time in London

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.

German midfielder Sara Dabritz netted for Lyon in the 110th minute, putting the visitors ahead

Maren Mjelde scored with the last kick of the game in extra time to force a penalty shootout

Ann-Katrin Berger (pictured) made the decisive save in the shootout, denying Lindsey Horan

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.

Emma Hayes’ side brought a 1-0 advantage into the second leg, which went down to the wire

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