OLYMPIQUE LYON WIN LADIES CL FINAL AT CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

Women’s Champions League final: Lyon 0-0 Paris St-Germain (7-6 pens)
By Tom Garry


Lyon have won four of the last seven Women's Champions League titles


Defending champions Lyon claimed their fourth Women's Champions League title with a tense 7-6 win on penalties over Paris St-Germain in Cardiff.

Keeper Sarah Bouhaddi struck the winning spot kick after PSG stopper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek had missed at the Cardiff City Stadium

PSG's Marie-Laure Delie missed from 10 yards with the best chance of a goalless 120 minutes.

Victory gave French league and cup winners Lyon a second straight treble.

The Cardiff crowd of 22,433 was the second-largest for a final since the competition rebranded as the Women's Champions League for the 2009-10 season.

They witnessed a match that was high on technical ability and defensive organisation, but low of goalmouth action and lacking in a cutting-edge in the final third.

But the game climaxed with a dramatic shootout which - after PSG's Grace Geyoro and Lyon's Eugenie Le Sommer had seen their efforts saved - went down to the keepers in sudden death.

Lyon's 7-6 win was a repeat of their 7-6 victory on spot kicks over PSG in the French Cup final on 19 May, and saw them equal German side Frankfurt's record of four European titles.

Arguably the most notable moment of a cagey first half was when Lyon's United States star Alex Morgan - who had been passed fit to start after a hamstring problem - was withdrawn after just 23 minutes, limping off with a recurrence of the same injury.

Lyon - playing in their sixth European final in eight seasons - improved after the break, but the 2017 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year, Ada Hegerberg, poked wide on the rebound after a close-range save from Poland goalkeeper Kiedrzynek.

Shortly afterwards, Delie had time in the penalty area to break the deadlock, but placed agonisingly wide for 2015 runners-up PSG, who have now lost in both of their European final appearances.

Defending champions Lyon had knocked out 2016 English league champions Manchester City in the semi-finals, while PSG had overcome Barcelona in the last four.

Olympique Lyonnais: Bouhaddi, Renard (c), Kumagai, Majri, Le Sommer, Marozsan, Hegerberg (Bremer 60), Buchanan, Abily, M'Bock Bathy, Morgan (Thomis 23 (Lavogez 108)).

Subs not used: Gerard, Houara-D'Hommeaux, Henning, Seger.

Paris St-Germain: Kiedryzynek, Delannoy, Diallo (Veronica Boquete 57), Cristiane, Lawrence, Paredes, Perisset (Morroni 90), Delie, Formiga, Geyoro, Cruz Trana (c) (Georges, 80).

Subs not used: Geurts, Boulleau, Baoudi.

Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER)

Attendance: 22,433

I was at the game and thought it was great advert for ladies football; and for Cardiff City Stadium, the City of Cardiff itself and for Wales

The crowd of over 22,000 (the second highest ever for a Ladies CL Final) made a lot of noise in a great atmosphere and the Paris St Germain Ultras (based in the stadium away section) were an entertainment on their own. They didn't stop for the whole game and were superb in their choreography and volume, which just went to show what the stadium could be like if a few changes were made to accommodate and encourage an atmosphere from home supporters!

The game itself might appear 'boring' with the 0-0 result at full-time but that's not how I saw it and the standard of football (maybe finishing apart from both sides) was of a higher standard than I expected

I thought Lyon shaded it over the game itself but Paris did look the more dangerous when they got sight of goal and some outstanding saves were made by both keepers

Penalties area horrid way to end a game but there had to be a winner and it was a shame that the final 'miss' came from the Paris goalkeeper who had done so well before that. She was inconsolable and that is where the Paris St Germain Ultras raised their efforts through the roof to show support for 'their' player!

A great evening and great value at £6 per seat

Yes

Well done Cardiff on a great show. I saw fans from as far as Mexico and Costa Rica in the stadium ( over here for the experience ) so attending the WCL Final too.

Loads of City tops there too - great turn out and event organisation.

Yes

Well done Cardiff on a great show. I saw fans from as far as Mexico and Costa Rica in the stadium ( over here for the experience ) so attending the WCL Final too.

Loads of City tops there too - great turn out and event organisation.

Agree, fella

Thoroughly enjoyed the match, was a shame there were no goals but the penalty shootout was intense. Thought the quality of football was very good and quite skilful at times - it's difficult to compare it with the men's but I'd say there seems to be a better flow to the game and it's cleaner - not so many bad tackles or rolling around on the floor. Great advert for women's football IMO. PSG looked abit tired in the second half and I think their striker was actually injured towards the end but they had already made all their subs so she just played on. They were very fast at times and it was great to see 22,500 odd in attendance. Well worth the £6 each we paid - would have paid more!

I was there too and can only re-iterate what others had said
Recognised a few regulars and there was a great atmosphere - in fact it got really loud at some points
I felt the teams cancelled each other out but for a great evening couldn't fault it and can see the CCCS being used again !