Report: United Women 0 Lyon 3
Manchester United suffered a 3-0 defeat to eight-time UEFA Women's Champions League winners OL Lyonnes in Wednesday's European contest at the Progress With Unity Stadium.
United fought hard to no avail but have already secured at least a place in the knockout round play-offs and go into next Wednesday’s final league-phase fixture away to Juventus still able to automatically qualify for the quarter-finals, by finishing in the top four of the 18-team table.
FIRST HALF
The first chance of the evening fell the way of the visitors, as Ada Hegerberg’s ball found Dumornay on the edge of the penalty area. The no.6 took a touch, before firing over the bar in the seventh minute.
Lyonnes came forward again, this time with Hegerberg as the target, but the low ball into her path was too far ahead of the forward as Phallon Tullis-Joyce came out to claim.
Another chance went begging just a minute later when Tarciane’s looped ball was put behind for a corner, which was whipped into the area by Selma Bacha, only to be cleared by United.
Continued pressure from the visitors forced the game’s opening goal just 12 minutes in, when Chawinga got on the end of a loose ball and slipped Hegerberg into a one-on-one with Tullis-Joyce, which was brilliantly defended by Jayde Riviere, who recovered well to slide in and temporarily prevent danger.
Lyon recovered the ball just seconds later, however, as Ingrid Engen picked up the pieces and lopped a ball into the centre of the area. Chawinga was there in the area to flick the header on target and found the net despite the best efforts of Tullis-Joyce, who got a hand to the effort.
It was almost two for Jonatan Giraldez’s side soon after. Dumornay found space on the right-hand side before scooping a ball into the front post towards Hegerberg, who connected with the ball in, only to watch her attempt fly just wide of the mark.
Dumornay looked to get herself on the scoresheet 16 minutes in, when she found space to strike inside the area, but saw the shot blocked and cleared.
Lyon continued to pester our back line, this time through Engen. A corner into the area was headed away, but only as far as the visitors’ no.15, who tried her luck with a first-time strike on the edge of the area, which curled wide of the left upright.
United saw a half-chance go amiss as Fridolina Rolfo played a smart ball down the left flank for Melvine Malard to run on to, but good defending from Sombath prevented the forward from making any ground.
Marc Skinner’s side almost grabbed an equaliser with just five minutes of the first half remaining, after some brilliant passing movement. The ball found its way to Hinata Miyazawa, who floated a brilliant ball into the area, finding the head of Malard at stretch, but the no.9 just couldn’t keep her header down, as the ball flew narrowly over the bar and behind for a goal-kick.
SECOND HALF
Three changes were made at the break with United a goal down. Ella Toone, Julia Zigiotti and Jess Park were brought on to replace Simi Awujo, Lisa Naalsund – who had received a booking – and Rachel Williams.
Despite the alterations to United’s line-up, Lyon continued to forge chances, winning a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area via a foul by substitute, Zigiotti, just three minutes into the second 45. Bacha stepped up to take the set-piece, but fired it narrowly over the bar.
Dumornay continued to cause problems for Skinner’s side, this time through her deflected cross into the area. Hegerberg controlled the pass before firing with her left foot, only to see it go wide of the left post.
United looked to come forward through Riviere from the right-hand side but saw her cross into the box claimed in the area by Christiane Endler. Riviere was called into action defensively just minutes later as she brilliantly cut out a dangerous-looking Lyon through ball with a well-timed sliding challenge.
Rolfo had the chance to create real danger for the visitors when the ball was flicked into her path on the edge of the penalty area, but the Swede’s first touch let her down, as the ball bobbled wide of the mark.
Lyon’s Jule Brand squandered a golden opportunity to double the lead on the 77th minute after Bacha drove into the area and squared the ball to her; the no.29 struck a first-time effort straight at Tullis-Joyce from close range.
Jonatan Giraldez’s side went on to grab their second of the evening with nine minutes to go, through the ever-dangerous Dumornay, who wriggled into space on the edge of the area and smashed an effort home into the top right corner to give the away team a cushion as the game began to wind down.
It didn't take the visitors long to then add to their tally, as Dumornay doubled up just nine minutes later. A run from the right-hand side saw substitute Kadidiatou Diani dart to the byline and slide a ball across to the former, who smashed home from inside the area to seal the win.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), George, Sandberg (Janssen 74); Naalsund (Zigiotti 46), Miyazawa; Malard, Awujo (Toone 46), Rolfo (Galton 82); Williams (Park 46).
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Blundell, Griffiths.
Booked: Naalsund, Zigiotti.
Lyon: Endler (c); Tarciane (Lawrence 86), Sombath, Engen, Bacha; Heaps (Shrader 67), Egurrola; Brand (Yohannes 82), Dumornay, Chawinga (Diani 67); Hegerberg (Katoto 67).
Subs not used: Belhadj, Benyahia, Becho, Junttila-Nelhage, Micah, Renard, Svava.
Goals: Chawinga 12, Dumornay 81, 90.