Arsenal Women made a spectacular start to their Champions League campaign as they produced one of the high-scoring football scores of the midweek action. Beth Mead of England, who was crowned the women’s Ballon d’Or runner-up on Monday, scored twice as Arsenal made a clear-cut declaration of their determination to compete in Europe. Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, and Mead all scored in the first half as Arsenal easily defeated Lyon.
After that, Foord and Mead scored twice in a two-minute span in the second half to further devastate Lyon, who had lost only twice in their previous 83 home games. Since May 2005, the eight-time European winners had not given up five goals, and Jonas Eidevall, the manager of Arsenal, called the victory the team’s “greatest performance.” Arsenal entered Europe with the confidence they gained from an undefeated start to their Women’s Super League season. In a group that also has Juventus and Zurich, it immediately put them in the lead as Arsenal pursues a second Champions League championship — 15 years after their first.
The Gunners stunned their hosts with two goals in the opening 22 minutes of the game at Stade des Lumieres. Following excellent approach work by Mead, Foord scored the game’s first goal. Maanum’s goal made it 2-0, putting Lyon well on the defensive. Arsenal took a 3-1 halftime advantage when Mead’s free-kick reached the back of the net, giving the defending champions a mountain to climb even though Melvine Malard had narrowed the deficit after 27 minutes.
Foord and Mead helped Arsenal form a procession as the game devolved into a rout, leaving Lyon with no chance of recovery. The most beautiful of ways have seen the realization of that victory. Despite what they may claim in public, Arsenal would have readily accepted a draw because Lyon just does not lose 5-1 at home in Europe. However, it has now.
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