Lyon blow Paris away to move to verge of final
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Article summary
Lyon 7-0 Paris Saint-Germain
Last season's runners-up Paris had no answer to a stunning display as Lyon set a number of new records in a comprehensive win.
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Article body
- Lyon put on awesome show against last season's runners-up in semi-final opener
- Lyon's Camille Abily becomes first player to win 50 UEFA women's club games
- Lotta Schelin gets 40th European goal for Lyon, equals competition record for one club
- 22,050 crowd best for European club game other than final and French women's record
- Second leg moved to 20.45CET on Monday 2 May at Parc des Princes
- Final on 26 May in Reggio Emilia v Wolfsburg or FFC Frankfurt
Even by their standards, two-time UEFA Women's Champions League winners Lyon produced a stunning performance to defeat domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain 7-0 in the first leg of their semi-final.
Having beaten Slavia Praha 9-1 in the quarter-finals on their Stade de Lyon debut, OL delighted the 22,050 crowd with another clinical display against a Paris team that knocked them out in last season's round of 16 on their way to the final. Ada Hegerberg scored twice for the sixth time this season in the competition, and in making it 3-0 ensured Lyon became the first club to 250 goals in UEFA women's club matches.
Paris, without suspended duo Shirley Cruz Traña and Jessica Houara-d'Hommeaux and losing Laure Boulleau, Kheira Hamraoui and Laura Georges to injury in the first 36 minutes, had no answer to a Lyon side that scored from seven of their eight shots on target. Lotta Schelin came off the bench to equal Nina Burger of Neulengbach's record of 40 European goals for one club, only the fifth player to reach that tally overall. Lyon's fifth final against a German club looks assured.
Reaction
Ada Hegerberg, Lyon forward
You're quite focused on the game and trying to do your best, but I had goose-bumps from the first minute, to be honest – the crowd was amazing. When you have 22,000 people supporting you, it gives you a boost. And I think the team did incredibly today. I have a lot of faith in our team.
One of the strengths of our team is we always try to play for each other. It has to be like that. I'm really proud of the girls, because we put a lot of hard work into building this success.
When you play for a great club like Lyon, you always have the biggest challenges. This year, it was to go all the way in the three competitions and we're on a good run. There are only big games left, but a great game like today's gives you a boost.
Sabrina Delannoy, Paris defender
This result has nothing to do with the pressure of being in a semi-final or playing in a big venue with a record attendance. It was one of those days when nothing went right. I don't think it could have been any worse in terms of the result, our performance or the injuries.
It's up to each and every one of us to look ourselves in the mirror and evaluate this big disappointment. There are lessons to be learned, but we'll also have to question ourselves and understand what separates us from the very top European teams.
Preparing for the second leg won't be easy at all. In my career, I've rarely experienced that – luckily. We'll need a bit of time to process all this, because it's difficult. I simply hope we'll bounce back and show another side to ourselves.