Chelsea Women: 3 takeaways from a historic UWCL triumph over Lyon

In one of the most significant contests in the history of CFCW, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea Women showed sheer grit in extra time to outlast the eight-time Champions League winners on penalties.

A truly monumental event. Not even a Hollywood screenwriter could have manufactured a better story than what transpired at Stamford Bridge under the lights on Thursday night. With Chelsea heading back for the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against the mighty Lyon with just a one-goal lead, you just knew this match was going to be a classic.

After one of the most disappointing results in the history of the club in December of 2021, the west London outfit came out to prove what this team was all about in 2023. Down by a goal on aggregate with just ten minutes left in the tie, Chelsea Women needed to dig deep if there was any way to salvage their European season on their home soil.

Sara Dabritz’s right-footed strike in the second half of extra time looked to have completed a remarkable comeback on the road for the current French league leaders. On the Blues’ last chance to force spot kicks, the eventual hero Ann-Katrin Berger blasted a free kick into the Lyon box. The ball ended up at the feet of the exact player Emma Hayes would have wanted. Lauren James, who caused the opposition’s backline fits all night used her elusiveness to force a vital penalty kick as time expired.

While VAR had not been on Chelsea Women’s side during many games this season, it finally came back around. Using her experience having netted big goals in the Champions League in the past, Maren Mjelde stepped to the spot as cool as the other side of the pillow. She made no doubt of her spot kick, sending the Bridge into a frenzy.

Hayes’ side still had a lot of work to do, but there was no way a team would be able to recover mentally in time to successfully defeat the opposition in a shootout. Berger did the rest during the PKs to decide the match as the Blues were able finish on the right side of what will go down as one of the most memorable matches in the history of this competition.

For just the second time in the last eight seasons, the French juggernaut will not be advancing to the Champions League semifinals. Chelsea Women were able to weather the storm in the first half from Sonia Bompastor’s side, who very well could have equalized the tie much earlier than they did. The backline held on for as long as it could without Mille Bright, but despite Lyon breaking it down on two occasions, the defense did the critical job of frustrating the away side. It was a match filled with chances on both sides that ultimately came down to who was more clinical from 12 yards out.

This result was years of progress in the making. Lyon have been the constant leader, and the role model for all other European clubs to follow over the past eight seasons. Hayes’ side nearly found a way past the French side in 2019, but it was not meant to be.

Chelsea Women have done it, and while the atmosphere and emotion may have mimicked a final, this was merely the second hurdle on their way to potentially lifting their first Champions League title. Here are three takeaways from a sublime match of football that ended the only way Champions League nights at the Bridge this season know-how.

3 takeaways from one of the greatest football matches in the history of Chelsea Women:

Ann-Katrin Berger solidifies her place as the team’s No. 1

The German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has been through the ringer all season. Berger announced via social media that she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in August. While she missed the first match of the season, Berger slotted right back into Hayes’ team while undergoing treatment at the same time.

Earlier in the campaign, Berger made it known that football has saved her mental health. If anyone on the team deserved to piece together a performance like that under the brightest of lights, it was Berger. You can see it in the body language of Berger after the save of Lindsey Horan’s penalty. After all she has gone through this season, nobody will be able to take this away from her.

She endured a difficult run of form toward the end of the 2022 calendar year, giving way to Zecira Musovic at times. Just a few weeks ago, the west Londoners announced the signing of Nicky Evrard, another top-class goalkeeper. While we may see a three-way battle for the No. 1 goalkeeping spot next season, Berger has laid the hammer down going forward this season with this display in the clutch.

There is no quit in this player. Berger embraces challenges head on. Both in life and on the football pitch. Despite how much this club may want to pass the torch to another stop-stopper, the former Birmingham City player is making it incredibly hard.

For this alone, the German will forever be remembered as one of the club’s greatest goalkeepers, showing up at home against the She stood tall with two penalty saves including one against a 2019 World Cup champion. James’ causal penalty could have cost the west Londoners, but Berger had her teammates’ back. She had her mistakes from playing out the back throughout the season, but those two saves more than make up for that.

This was the biggest win in the history of the club

Those full-time scenes were something else. There has been plenty of unforgettable matches since Hayes took the reins of the team, but this one has to take the cake. It could be recency basis, but it was Lyon in the Champions League in west London. It does not get much better than that. March 19, 2019 in Paris comes to mind along with the Conti Cup final win in 2020. Given the opponent and the way in which this group did it puts this contest on the top of the list.

Lyon have been the bar for so many seasons in Europe. It was a true roller coaster ride of emotions for Blues fans. Deflation quickly turned to elation as Hayes’ side found a way to punch back at a side that turned the tie on its head. They did this all without Bright in the center of the defense.

Behind a packed crowd at the Bridge that included both Graham Potter and Reece James, the Chels laid left everything on the pitch. There is something about the Bridge in the Champions League for the men’s and women’s sides this season. From AC Milan to Dortmund to now the women’s headline win over Lyon, the magic in west London on European nights has been something special.

That atmosphere at a women’s football match was exceptional. For years, Lyon has stood at the top of the hill of European football. Losing out in the group stage in the previous campaign made this result that much sweeter. While Bompastor’s side will be back, Chelsea Women finally managed to edge a side that has finished second more better in 10 out of the last 13 Champions League seasons.

Lauren James’ dazzling display through 120 minutes proves critical

English international Lauren James came off before halftime over the weekend at Man City, and clearly looked like she had something to prove on Thursday night. In the first leg in south east France, James completed four dribbles in addition to leading the team in tackles on that night. It was like she picked up right where she left off in the first contest of this tie.

Not only did she win the penalty that led to Mjelde tying the game late, but James was also at her creativity best all night. From through balls into Sam Kerr to her ambition to drive right at the defense, James very well could have been a part of a goal in live action.

James made a sensational run into the box in the 23′, striking the ball with power at Christiane Endler, forcing her to make a one-handed save. She was one of six field players that contributed all 90 minutes plus extra time. While many will point to her missed penalty in the shootout, the game would have never reached that point if it was not for the directness of James with the ball at her feet.

Performances like these should not come to surprise anyone at this point. It is the second penalty that James has missed this season, but you can excuse her for that due to the game changing quality in live play.