Jean-Pierre Thiesset was pitchside in the Groupama Stadium EXCLUSIVELY for Impetus to report and photograph on the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group D game between Olympique Lyonnais and Benfica.
Above: Melvine Malard’s sensational overhead kick goal which put Lyon 3-0 ahead over Benfica. Photo exclusively for Impetus by: Jean-Pierre Thiesset.
Olympique Lyonnais wrapped up a comfortable 5-0 win over Benfica in front of 4,115 spectators in the Groupama Stadium in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group D clash.
As Wendie Renard and Griedge MBock were not in the squad for this game due to injury, their places in central defence were taken by Kadeisha Buchanan and Amandine Henry, as for the last D1 Arkema game.
Lyon started the match by putting a lot of pressure on Benfica but without being able to score. Around the half-hour mark, the home side began to build more intensity, which enabled them to play higher on the field which resulted in two goals in as many minutes.
First, after 29th minutes, Kadeisha Buchanan scored after a corner from Catarina Macario was badly cleared by the goalkeeper, and she took advantage. Then, in the 31st minute, Daniëlle Van De Donk scored after being played in by Melvine Malard.
Lyon continued to dominate the rest of the first half without increasing the score despite a lot of opportunities, especially at the last minute, when Catarino Macario sent a free-kick onto the post and Kadeisha Buchanan’s header hit the bar.
Lyon started the second half stronger than the first half and Benfica players suffocated under their pressure and their quick game. After 10 minutes in this second half, Lyon had already increased the score by two more goals. A wonderful overhead kick goal was executed by Melvine Malard on a cross from Catarina Macario who shortly after added a penalty herself, for her seventh goal in seven games.
Lyon continued to dominate the game and six minutes later, Kadeisha Buchanan flew over everyone to score a header for her second goal on the night from Selma Bacha’s free-kick. Ada Hegerberg replaced Macario at the 67th minute for her first home game in almost two years to a great ovation from the fans who were very glad to see her back. Hegerberg showed that she was already fit to help her teammates to win and caused trouble to the Benfica defenders during the last 15 minutes including almost scoring ten minutes after coming on.
Statistics of the match:
Lyon: 63% of possession, 547 passes (86% successful), 33 shots (20 on target), 13 corners.
Benfica: 37% of possession, 326 passes (79% successful), 7 shots (5 on target), 1 corner.
Teams: OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS: Endler, Bacha, Morroni, Henry, Egurrola, Carpenter, Macario, van der Donk, Cascarino, Buchanan, Malard. Subs: Paljevic (GK), Holmgren (GK), Hegerberg, Sombath, Laurent, Julini, Cayman, Bruun, Benyahia, Baga, Bahlouli.
Scorers: Buchanan 29′, 63′. Van De Donk 31′, Malard 53′, Macario (pen 56′)
BENFICA: Leticia, Seica, Faria, Vitoria, Alves, Costa, Nazareth, Amodo, Lacasse, Pauleta, Cameirao. Subs: Vilao (GK), Rebelo, Fidalgo, Silva, Cintra, Negrao, Uchelbe, Santos, Pintassligo.
Referee: Cheryl Foster (WAL).
Attendance: 4,115.
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