Lyon reach Women’s CL last eight despite Brann draw
Lyon claimed a spot in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals despite drawing 2-2 with Norwegian side Brann on Thursday.
France midfielder Amel Majri and Norway attacker Aga Hegerberg, with a penalty, had put the record eight-time winners 2-0 up after just 13 minutes.
Justine Kielland cut the deficit for the home side 10 minutes before the break in snowy Bergen.
Lyon played most of the second half a player down as USA international Lindsey Horan was shown a red card before Brann claimed a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.
Defender Marit Lund delivered a corner before Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler fumbled and 18-year-old Brann midfielder Signe Gaupset volleyed home the crucial goal.
Brann are second in the table, with a six-point advantage over the other two teams in Group B, Slavia Prague and St Poelten.
Their game was postponed after 14 people were killed in a shooting in the Czech capital earlier in the day.
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In Group A, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Laura Freigang missed a 90th-minute penalty as the German outfit drew 1-1 with Benfica, keeping both sides’ chances of reaching the knock-out stages alive.
Holders Barcelona host Sweden’s Rosengrad later looking to book their last-eight spot with a win.
On Wednesday, Australia’s Sam Kerr netted in Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Swedish club Hacken, while Real Madrid’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals were ended in a 1-0 home loss to Paris FC.
RESULTS ON THURSDAY:
Group A
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 1 (Reuteler 28) Benfica (POR) (Nycole Rayslia 71)
Group B
Brann (NOR) 2 (Kielland 34, Gaupset 90+4) Lyon (FRA) 2 (Majri 6, Hegerberg 13-pen)
PLAYING LATER
Group A
Barcelona (ESP) v Rosengard (SWE)
Group B
Slavia Prague (CZE) v St Polten (AUT) – POSTPONED
PLAYED ON WEDNESDAY
Group C
Ajax (NED) 1 (Leuchter 44) Bayern Munich (GER) 0
Roma (ITA) 1 (Giugliano 88) Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 3 (Chawinga 26, Katoto 67, Albert 78)
Group D
Hacken (SWE) 1 (Larisey 26) Chelsea (ENG) 3 (Kerr 14, Cuthbert 52, 64)
Real Madrid (ESP) 0 Paris FC (FRA) 1 (Thiney 79-pen)