It was the burst of light to silence the noise of the Emirates. Arsenal had Lyon on the ropes, clawing themselves level at last through Mariona Caldentey’s penalty after subjecting the eight-time Women’s Champions League winners to an onslaught of pressure. A 1-1 draw to take into the semi-final second leg would have felt deserved and, if anything, Arsenal would have come away regretting their missed chances against the French champions. “We felt like we could have scored another one,” said Renee Slegers.
But, thanks to the sensational Melchie Dumornay, Arsenal require another comeback if they are to reach their first Champions League final since 2007. The dramatic late intervention from the best young player in the world came four minutes after Caldentey’s equaliser and was the sucker-punch Arsenal did not see coming. For Dumornay, the 21-year-old Haitian star, her surging run between Emily Fox and Steph Catley and finish over Manuela Zinsberger was the moment she properly announced her arrival on the European stage.
