Not Today

UEFA Women’s Champions League

April 27, 2025
Groupama Stadium, Lyon

Lyon had already knocked Arsenal once, two years before but —Kim, Caitlin, Viv, Beth, Leah— had all been injured. Arsenal were now stronger, hungrier.

Barely five minutes were gone when fate tipped its hand. A Chloe Kelly corner twisted awkwardly, Endler misjudged the flight, and the ball glanced cruelly off her back before tumbling over the line. A freak own goal—but also a sign. Arsenal led, seized the fragile talisman of momentum and suddenly the fortress cracked.

McCabe surged the flank with her familiar defiance, cutting into spaces and driving crosses into a Lyon side suddenly jittery in possession. On 34 minutes, Caldentey fired a warning high. By stoppage time, she delivered her masterpiece—Russo holding firm, Kelly and Little threading the play, and Caldentey curling her shot with surgical finesse into the top corner. Arsenal were 2–0 up, 3–2 on aggregate. When Egurrola tested Van Domselaar moments later, the keeper’s denial signaled that the tide had turned.

The second half began in chaos. Foord and Maanum tore through Lyon’s backline, forcing errors. Within minutes, Russo struck—calm, ruthless, inevitable. Arsenal surged to 3–0, 4–2 on aggregate.

Lyon threw forward their champions. Carpenter fired wide. Hegerberg forced a save from Van Domselaar. Dumornay unleashed a half-volley, only for McCabe to turn guardian on the line, each intervention a refusal to yield.

Then came the coup de grâce. In the 63rd minute, Lyon coughed up possession once more. Foord seized her moment. Time and space stretched around her, and the strike rifled into the top corner. Then came Dumornay’s late consolation but could not disguise the truth: the dynasty had fallen. 5–3 on aggregate.

Arsenal had rewritten history. For the first time since 2007, Arsenal advanced to a Champions League final. It was a reclaiming of history, a redrawing of power, and a declaration sent across Europe.

Lisbon beckoned. Barcelona awaited.

Lyon 1 – 4 Arsenal
(C. Engler ‘4 (og), M. Caldentey ‘45, A. Russo 46, C. Foord ‘62, M. Dumornay ‘80)