WCL roundup: Slavia Prague grab famous draw
Slavia Prague caused a major surprise as they scored in stoppage time to grab a 2-2 draw against eight-times Champions League winners Lyon. The unfancied Czechs were beaten 9-0 in the reverse Group B fixture at their home ground but put in a courageous display to earn a point at the OL Stadium thanks to midfielder Kristina Kosikova’s late strike, which deflected in off the unfortunate Vanessa Gilles and was given as an own goal.
The Slavia Prague goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova kept her team in the match with a string of fine saves. Lyon had 32 attempts at goal but found the net only twice, with Amel Majiri scoring after four minutes and then Vicki Becho tapping home on 74 minutes for what many observers would have thought the winner.
The final whistle was met with joyous scenes among the Prague players, who held hands and ran en masse towards the away end. The draw means Prague finish third in the group, with Lyon having already secured top spot.
In the other Group B match Norway’s Brann came from a goal behind to beat St Pölten 2-1, securing their spot as runners-up. Sarah Mattner had given the Austrians the lead early in the game but Brann dominated thereafter and Amalie Eikeland’s injury-time header earned all three points.
St Pölten captain, Jennifer Klein, was understandably deflated: “Conceding a goal in the 90th minute is just … I don’t know. I don’t have any words now, but I think we had some good phases in the game too. Brann are a very good team and I think they were supposed to win today.”
In Group A, Benfica ended Barcelona’s perfect record in the Champions League this season in a thrilling, topsy-turvy 4-4 draw at Futebol Campus. Graham Hansen gave Barça the lead after 18 minutes, with Patri Guijarro quickly doubling the scoreline. Two goals from Benfica’s Marie-Yasmine Alidou brought the match level in the second half before Hansen, again, found the target to give the reigning champions a 3-2 lead.
Jessica Silva equalised for the Portuguese side in the 71st minute before Lucy Bronze had an eventful end to the game, putting through her own net in the 81st minute to give Benfica a 4-3 lead and then leaping to head home in the sixth minute of injury time to salvage a 4-4 draw and her side’s unbeaten record.
Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed third place in Group A with a 5-0 thrashing of Rosengard.
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Thank you for joining me for this monumental draw for Slavia Prague. Many would have written them off before the game and resigned them to another demolishing score line. But they responded well to Lyon’s two goals to make sure they came away with a point. It doesn’t have an impact on the group table but it is a show of the progress they have made this season. The WCL quarter-final draw is on 6 February so keep an eye out for that. Have a good evening.
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The other game in this group finished as a 2-1 Brann win over St Pölten. Brann are through as runners-up.
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Here is the equaliser, which has been officially given as a Gilles own goal:
SLAVIA PRAHA GET THE EQUALISER AFTER 90 MINUTES!!! 👏
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Lyon had 32 attempts at goal, 11 on target and only scored two. Slavia Prague had three attempts on goal and scored two. Absolute madness. And a huge applause needs to go to goalkeeper Lukasova, she was heroic.
Slavia hold hands and run towards the away end, they slide on their fronts and they celebrate. These are such wonderful scenes.
Slavia Prague run onto the pitch and all jump on Kosikova, who scored the match equaliser. It shows what this result means to them. Huge.
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Full time: Lyon 2-2 Slavia Prague
What a result for Slavia Prague. The Czech team came from behind twice in this match to win a point, it may not sound like much on the surface but after being demolished 9-0 in the reverse fixture this is a massive score line and the way Lyon were desperately trying to find a winner it shows how much they thought they deserved the win. A famous WCL evening.
90 + 8 min: Everyone is okay to continue as Lyon look for a winner.
90 + 6 min: Slavia are clinging on here, Lyon are throwing everything at them to get a winner. It feels as though this result means Lyon are through but they already are – they know this will be a slight blow to their momentum. Lukasova makes another fabulous save! A Slavia player was hit in the process and she is in need of treatment, we hope she is okay.
90 + 5 min: Suddenly all of those saves from Lukasova mean even more, she kept her side in this game and she does it again with a fantastic save from a Becho attempt. Lyon beat Slavia 9-0 in the reverse fixture, this would be huge for the Czech side to get a draw.
90 + 3 min: What did I say, Slavia had the time and they made it count! I am unsure if Kosikova will get that awarded to her or if it will go down as an own goal for Gilles, her sliding tackle took it around her keeper. HUGE.
GOAL! Lyon 2-2 Slavia Prague (Kosikova, 90 + 1')
OH MY WORD!!
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90 + 1 min: There will be six minutes added.
90 min: There will be a fair chunk of added time here with the injuries and so Slavia have time to find an equaliser, I wouldn’t put it past them after such a good performance.
88 min: Slavia injecting some pace now as they try and find an equaliser but Xiao sees it out of play. Slavia make a change with Cerna off for Kosikova.
86 min: The pace has slowed down in the last few moments, yes Lyon are still taking cracks at goal but the desperation has disappeared now. Lyon have been far off their best tonight.
84 min: Lyon take the corner short but it comes to Bacha whose effort is well wide. The French side just keep on coming, if I were Slavia I would be exhausted!
82 min: Bacha creates a great chance but the box is flooded with Slavia players who manage to clear. Lyon keep peppering chances into the box but each time they are repelled, the latest a great save from Lukasova from a Le Sommer’s header. It’s out for a corner.
80 min: Horan looks okay to continue here as Lyon remain in possession and are hunting for their third goal.
78 min: It looks like she took an accidental elbow to the face, she is sitting up now.
77 min: Horan is down here and I think she has hit her head as they aren’t moving her too quickly, let’s hope she is okay.
76 min: Slavia Prague immediately run over to the ref, they think there was a foul in the build-up and there frustration is understandable as it wasn’t a handball. But the tap home stands and Lyon are ahead.
GOAL! Lyon 2-1 Slavia Prague (Becho, 74')
Finally Lyon get there goal.
74 min: Lyon have had over 26 shots at goal but only the one goal so far, it’s so unlike them to waste so many chances. Bendova handballs, well it hits her chest but the referee judges it to be handball, and so Lyon have a free kick on the edge of the box.
72 min: The crowd are getting more animated here, willing their team to find a winner. Another cross comes in and another opportunity wasted.
70 min: Diani is limping off here, there hasn’t been any confirmation she is being replaced but this doesn’t look good.
69 min: Bacha crosses a lovely ball but somehow Slavia get it away, boos rain down as Lyon fans think two of their players were fouled but the referee lets play go on. Diani is in some pain and so the referee has to pause play for her to receive some attention.
67 min: Becho has some nice footwork in the box and it forces Slavia to concede a corner. It’s pinged in and Lukasova punches away, Sombath absolutely skies her effort from distance.
65 min: Slavia win a corner and it’s a good delivery but Lyon do well to defend. This looks exactly like the Lyon performance when they drew to Brann, all the chances but not the clinical edge.
63 min: Lyon have a corner but it is well cleared by Slavia. It’s not long until the hosts have the ball back and Horan crossed, Hegerberg squares it but no one is there to pick it up. Hegerberg is then replaced by Le Sommer, Van de Donk is also off for Dabritz.
61 min: Slavia Prague win a corner, both goals so far have come from this set piece – a Lyon counter attack and an effective move from the visitors. Can a goal come again? Well Slavia give it away immediately and so Lyon look to counter. They can’t move it as quickly as they did for their goal but they do get it into the area but three shots are blocked and then Horan’s effort is over the bar! Wow.
59 min: How have Lyon not just scored? Lukasova spilled the ball and Becho had the opportunity to tap it in but somehow the keeper manages to put her off.
57 min: A cross comes in from Lyon but Horan’s resulting header is wide.
55 min: They decide to run the corner out wider which is a waste as they don’t even get it into the box, a strange decision there. Bacha does win another corner a moment later. It’s pinged in this time but Hegerberg’s header is cleared.
53 min: A huge save again from Lukasova, Lyon would have had at least three more goals if not for the keeper, and then Diani’s effort is wide. Lyon do win a corner.
51 min: Majri is back on the pitch and right back into the action, she pops a lovely cross in for Hegerberg but it is just beyond her and she can’t convert. Lyon decide to not take any chances and Majri has now been replaced by Becho.
49 min: The corner is taken short but it is eventually popped in, Gilles gets a head to it but it’s wide. Majri is receiving some treatment on the sidelines, I think to her ankle, and so Lyon are currently playing with 10.
47 min: Marozsan is Egurrola’s replacement. Lyon start really brightly as they win an early corner.
Back underway! Lyon 1-1 Slavia Prague
So will Lyon finally score one of their multiple chances? Or can Slavia Prague pull off an upset? All to come. Slavia have made a change with Surnovska on for Moravkova, Lyon also make a change with Egurrola off. I’ll get confirmation on her replacement shortly.
Here are the goals from this one so far:
Lyon are off! Amel Majri opens the scoring in this one. 🔥
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A Slavia Praha reaction comes by way of Franny Cerná! 😳
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In the other game in this group the score line is also 1-1 at half-time between Brann and St Polten.
Cerna told DAZN: “I think we were really excited. It was disappointing to get the goal that soon but I am happy [we could score back]. They are going to win the game, we want to keep this score or win.”
Half-time: Lyon 1-1 Slavia Prague
Lyon were first to strike with a masterful counter-attack seeing Majri score but Cerna hit right back from a corner move to put Slavia Prague level. Since then it has been a great defence from the visitors to keep the hosts out. Can they keep it going in the second half? We will see shortly.
45 + 4 min: The corner has a good delivery but Cerna sees it out for another corner, can Slavia weather this late storm?
45 + 3 min: Lyon win a free kick and Bacha takes it but it’s a sensational save from Lukasova. It’s out for a corner.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added.
44 min: Here come Slavia but Moravkova is judged offside and so their rare attack is over.
42 min: For all the Lyon efforts this game remains a draw so far, Slavia Praha will be so happy – that sounds patronising but they were 5-0 down after 25 minutes in the reverse fixture.
40 min: Majri takes a shot but it’s blocked, it then comes to Diani but it’s just beyond her and the chance is gone.
38 min: A lovely team move again from Lyon and the ball finds Horan but it has too much pace on it for the America to make anything of it.
36 min: Again another cross comes in but Hegerberg’s effort is collected by Lukasova, it feels a Lyon goal is coming – it’s just a matter of time. It should have been there, Hegerberg can’t believe it. Van de Donk crosses a peach of a ball but Hegerberg looks as though she slipped as she went to toe poke it home. There’s also been a really early change with Szewieczkova on for Stackpole.
34 min: Lyon win a free kick on the edge of the box but Bacha’s delivery is well cleared. Lyon are peppering efforts at the Slavia goal now with Hegerberg crossing in but her attempt is headed clear – the defence is immense but can Slavia keep it up throughout?
32 min: Two terrific saves from Lukasova, a long range effort is saved and Van de Donk looks to strike on the rebound but the keeper makes a fantastic block to keeper her out.
31 min: Bacha finds Hegerberg on the edge of the box, she gets swarmed and so she lays it off to a teammate. I think Carpenter gets on the end of a shot but Lukasova collects.
29 min: Carpenter makes a good run down the right and has time to cross, she does so but it is cleared before it reaches a teammate. Lyon manage to feed it back into the area, this time to Hegerberg’s feet. She swerves left and right but her resulting effort is over the bar.
27 min: Slavia Prague are reading Lyon so well, hounding and hustling in defence and forcing uncharacteristic errors from the French team. A really impressive performance from the Czech side so far.
25 min: Lyon are being wasteful in the final third at the moment, they are teeing up each chance but the final attempt is not coming off. This time Diani is passed the ball but she is offside again.
23 min: Lyon look to create something here but Diani is miles offside. Possession then exchanges hands quite a lot before Lyon look to build from the back, they do just that and a looping pass almost finds Hegerberg but Lukasova collects.
21 min: The game has hit a bit of a lull in the last few minutes which is a surprise, I thought as soon as Lyon had scored they would run away with this but Slavia’s equaliser has stunned the hosts a little.
19 min: The Lyon attack ends with Horan dispossessed but it’s not long before the hosts win it back. Hegerberg takes a shot but Lukasova saves well – Hegerberg has scored in each of Lyon’s 10 matches.
17 min: Bacha has to work really hard to make sure the ball stays in after being passed it awfully from Carpenter. Lyon work it upfield eventually but are yet to pull the trigger.
15 min: Diani wins Lyon their first corner but the set piece isn’t delivered well and the visitors are able to clear.
13 min: Horan is now back to her feet and she will continue in this match but she did get a fair whack there, should have been a penalty but we go on.
12 min: It has been a great response from the visitors and the goal is a deserved reward. Boos rain down here as Lyon want a penalty for a foul on Horan, she has remained down but no penalty has been given. No VAR here remember.
10 min: A well worked corner sees Cerna hit home and the team celebrate as though they have won the tournament. What a lovely moment. It’s just their second goal of the entire WCL campaign.
GOAL! Lyon 1-1 Slavia Prague (Cerna, 10')
Wow!
8 min: Lyon almost have their second in as many minutes as Hegerberg is a whisker away from finding Van de Donk, it’s out for a goal kick.
6 min: The visitors had started brightly but they were just outnumbered on the break, this could be a very long evening for them.
GOAL! Lyon 1-0 Slavia Prague (Majri, 5')
Slavia Prague had a corner but the delivery isn’t on the money and Lyon countered through Diani. She squared it to Majri who hit home.
4 min: Some solid work from Slavia Prague as they look to come forward but Bacha intercepts a slightly loose pass. Hegerberg then wins a free kick from a foul, it’s quite a way out though and so the French team will have to build from deep. It’s taken but it goes straight into touch.
2 min: Both teams finding their feet in this one but it is Lyon in possession now, Hegerberg looks to pounce but she is offside.
Kick-off! Lyon 0-0 Slavia Prague
We are underway. Will Lyon blow Slavia Prague away again? Or can the visitors cause an upset? We will soon find out.
The players are out and this game is almost underway. How many goals will we see? All to come.
Chelsea finished the group stage with a bang, a 4-0 result over Paris FC. You can catch up with the action here:
Harriet Osborn has emailed and said: “How’s the cold? I’m fond of an ice cold ginger beer to clean my nose out. More to the point, I don’t think I’ve seen a bench as scary as Lyon’s in a while. What a recruiting department they must have.”
I am feeling a bit better today thank you but I’ll take your suggestion to speed up the recovery. And yes Lyon are brutal, it’s so impressive to have that many stars in one team.
The eight quarter-finalists have now been confirmed and for the first time ever in the Women’s Champions League there is not a German team involved. Bayern Munich were eliminated last night after drawing 2-2 with PSG.
The quarter-final draw will take place on 6 February and the group winners – Barcelona, Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea – will be drawn against the runners-up – Benfica, Brann, Ajax and Häcken.
Who would you like to see go against each other? Get in touch and let me know.
A fun fact for you:
🛡️ Lyon have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine #UWCL group stage matches pic.twitter.com/D71uaT0RH4
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) January 31, 2024
Have you been listening to our women’s football podcast? Here’s the latest edition with a focus on Aston Villa’s Conti Cup controversy:
Tonight’s match is Sonia Bompastor’s 100th game in charge of Lyon. In that time she has won two French league titles, the WCL and three other French cups. And incredible feat for a manager who took over at the French club in 2021.
The team news is in! Lyon are not holding back despite already qualifying for the quarters with a front line of Diani, Hegerberg and Majri.
Lyon: Benkarth, Carpenter, Gilles, Sombath, Bacha, Van de Donk, Egurrola, Horan, Diani, Hegerberg, Majri
Slavia Prague have trusted captain Bartovicova leading the defence in a tricky fixture.
Slavia Prague: Lukasova, Bartovicova, Keene, Bendova, Xiao, Cerna, McLaughlin, Slajsova, Stackpole, Krejcirikova, Moravkova,
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League. Tonight we will focus on Lyon v Slavia Prague as the group stage comes to a close.
Lyon have already been confirmed as quarter-finalists and Slavia Prague are out with Brann taking the other qualifying position from group B. The visitors will want to make sure the scoreline doesn’t reach what the reverse fixture did when Lyon demolished them 9-0.
The French side will want to close the group stage in good fashion and so it could be a long evening for Slavia Prague, but there is a small possibility of a WCL upset.
Before we take a look at the game in more detail, the team news has been announced. Stay tuned for updates.
