Lyon reach Women’s Champions League last eight despite Brann draw

Ada Hegerberg celebrates her goal against Brann
AFP

Lyon claimed a spot in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals despite drawing 2-2 with Norwegian side Brann on Thursday.

France midfielder Amel Majri and Norway attacker Aga Hegerberg, with a penalty, had put the record eight-time winners 2-0 up after just 13 minutes.

Justine Kielland cut the deficit for the home side 10 minutes before the break in snowy Bergen.

Lyon played most of the second half a player down as USA international Lindsey Horan was shown a red card before Brann claimed a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.

Defender Marit Lund delivered a corner before Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler fumbled and 18-year-old Brann midfielder Signe Gaupset volleyed home the crucial goal.

Brann are second in the table, with a six-point advantage over the other two teams in Group B, Slavia Prague and St Poelten.

Their game was postponed after 14 people were killed in a shooting in the Czech capital earlier in the day.

In Group A, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Laura Freigang missed a 90th-minute penalty as the German outfit drew 1-1 with Benfica, keeping both sides’ chances of reaching the knock-out stages alive.

Holders Barcelona host Sweden’s Rosengrad later looking to book their last-eight spot with a win.

On Wednesday, Australia’s Sam Kerr netted in Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Swedish club Hacken, while Real Madrid’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were ended in a 1-0 home loss to Paris FC.

Authored by Afp via Breitbart December 21st 2023