Arsenal's bid to retain the Champions League crown came to an abrupt halt when they were eliminated by Lyon on a 4‑3 aggregate scoreline, the French side clinching a 3‑1 victory in the decisive second leg. The Gunners had entered the weekend with a 2‑1 advantage from the first encounter, capitalising on several mistakes from the French outfit, but Lyon produced a markedly different performance in the return match, overturning the deficit and securing their place in the final. A key factor in Lyon's resurgence was the return of midfielder Melchie Dumornay, who had missed the previous four games due to injury.
Dumornay immediately made an impact, drawing a foul from Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben‑Moy inside the penalty area in the 16th minute. The referee initially waved away the appeal, but after an extensive VAR review – which focused on whether the defender had made contact with the ball before the challenge – the decision was reversed and a penalty was awarded.
Dumornay stepped up and converted, giving Lyon an early lead. Lyon captain Wendie Renard saw her first attempt saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. However, the referee halted play and ordered a retake after spotting the keeper off her line. Renard seized the second chance, slotting the ball home and leveling the aggregate score.
The goal was a turning point, confirming Lyon's belief that they could overturn the first‑leg deficit. The hosts then doubled their advantage with a spectacular finish from forward Kadidiatou Diani. After a scramble that saw Kim Little lose the ball, Diani lifted her leg and curled a shot from a very tight angle into the net, extending Lyon's lead and putting the Gunners under immense pressure. Arsenal struggled to create clear chances in the first half, managing only a single, off‑target effort.
The woodwork, however, was tested twice in quick succession around the hour mark when Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith each saw their attempts hit the post. The Gunners' persistence finally paid off with fifteen minutes remaining when Alessia Russo, making Arsenal's first shot on target of the match, threaded a pass between Ashley Lawrence and Lindsey Heaps and finished from Smilla Holmberg's cross to pull one back.
The drama intensified in the dying minutes. Dumornay delivered a pinpoint pass to Jule Brand on the right edge of the box. Brand controlled the ball beautifully and struck a low shot that seemed destined for the back of the net, but the assistant referee raised the flag for offside. After three minutes of VAR scrutiny and the use of semi‑automated offside technology, the decision was overturned: Brand's top of the shirt was judged to be level with the back of Wubben‑Moy's foot, rendering her on‑side.
The goal stood, giving Lyon a 4‑3 aggregate lead and effectively sealing the tie. Lyon's victory marked their twelfth appearance in a European final and their ninth title win. They will now meet either Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the championship match scheduled for 23 May in Oslo.
The other semi‑final is currently tied 1‑1 on aggregate, with the second leg to be played on Sunday. In post‑match comments, Arsenal defender Leah Williamson told BBC Sport, "Lyon are a tough team to play against. They were good today and we didn't quite match that in the first half. I thought we put on a better one in the second but not enough.
You want to win the game, take chances and create chances and we didn't today. It's disappointing." She added, "Sometimes you have to give credit to another team for being on fire. This team is so humble and they work so hard. Everybody gives everything.
One thing you can't take away is that everyone gave what they had. There are football games that go your way and arguably we should have scored a few more in the first leg to give ourselves a bit of breathing space." Williamson also reflected on the VAR controversy, noting, "I felt like at the start of the game the ball was in play for about two minutes in 20.
With the rules... I don't think we're all on the same page with it, so it's frustrating. It was very stop‑start." Arsenal manager Réné Slegers shared similar sentiments, saying, "Lyon raised their levels today.
They came out really strong. They had Selma Bacha and Melchie Dumornay back in the side, who are world‑class players. They were really effective in certain moments. It was a very tight game, small margins… but very disappointing for us.
We were so close and we all believed we could do it, even though we went through hard times today. When it went to 3‑1, that was really tough. I spoke to a couple of players on the pitch and I said I feel gutted. They're so humble and work so hard, I wish for them all to go to a final but unfortunately this is football.
There's a lot of disappointment in the changing room." When asked whether Lyon deserved to progress, Slegers affirmed, "Yes, they were the better team. Across two legs it was two teams with styles of football that have gone against each other."