Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishLyon defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final at the Emirates.Melchie Dumornay’s 82nd-minute winner gives the French side the advantage of next week’s second leg in Lyon.Mariona Caldentey had equalised for Arsenal from the penalty spot just four minutes before Dumornay’s drilled strike, after Kadidiatou Diani’s 17th-minute goal gave Joseph Montemurro’s side the lead.The result continued Lyon’s perfect record in this season’s tournament, winning all nine of their matches, with Arsenal unable to replicate the performance that saw them recover from a two-goal first leg deficit to defeat Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage.Lyon’s attack caused Arsenal problems all match, with Diani beating the offside trap before a powerful finish into the bottom corner.Arsenal were unable to make the most of a series of opportunities but were awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time after a video assistant referee review deemed Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler connected with Leah Williamson as she attempted to punch the ball with Caldentey scoring the resultant spot kick.Dumornay had the final say minutes later with a well-timed run and finish to seal an advantage before the return leg on April 27.
Full time in north London.
We’ll be back next weekend to turn the tie around 👊 pic.twitter.com/GV1p86DX4m
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 19, 2025 Arsenal made to rue missed chancesAnalysis by Michael CoxArsenal had enough chances to feel that they could have won this match, even if their only goal came from Mariona Caldentey’s penalty, awarded after a lengthy VAR delay.Arsenal are not a noticeably tall side, but they constantly caused Lyon problems in the air. Frida Maanum twice nodded presentable headed chances wide, both after deep crosses to Beth Mead, who headed back across goal towards Maanum.Mead might also have done better with a good headed chance after Maanum had drifted to the right and crossed, while Alessia Russo had headed against the bar at a corner in the first half.Despite being involved in those chances-or perhaps because they didn’t take them – Maanum and Mead were the first players substituted, with Chloe Kelly on down the right, and Stina Blackstenius on as a second striker as Arsenal went to 4-4-2 for the final half hour.Renee Slegers will be disappointed with her side’s back four for both concessions. For the opener, Emily Fox was five yards behind her defensive colleagues and played Kadidiatou Diani onside.For the second, Leah Williamson was dragged out of the back four and her teammates couldn’t cover for her effectively, with Melanie Dumornay driving between Arsenal defenders to give Lyon the advantage heading into the second leg.Slegers tends to keep a settled side. With the exception of Russo, this was the side that defeated Leicester 5-1 on Tuesday, and despite this first-leg defeat, Slegers probably won’t make sweeping changes for the return match in France next weekend.“Against an opposition like Lyon, when we have the momentum, we need to score,” Sleggers said. “We did at the end, but we probably should have scored at least one more in that phase of the game (in the first half), at home, at the Emirates, against a strong opponent.“We worked hard to get the goal, was disappointing that they scored shortly afterwards, so we were chasing the game again. But it’s half-time, we’re one goal down, and we still have an opportunity to win.”(Top photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
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