Manchester City’s Champions League campaign again ends in the semi-finals at the hands of holders Olympique Lyonnais, this time with a 1-0 defeat on aggregate.
Lucy Bronze volleyed home expertly against her former club after 17 minutes after being left in space in the penalty area.
Dzsenifer Marozsán then saw her effort deflected onto her own post by Jenifer Beattie, as City struggled to stay in the game.
Abbie McManus was hurt when blocking a Amel Majri cross, as City were left a little exposed on the left hand side.
A rampaging Bronze run from her own half was only ended by a last ditch Steph Houghton tackle.
Beattie recovered with a crucial block after conceding the ball to Lyon’s very high press.
Jill Scott had an effort over the Lyon bar in the second half and Sarah Bouhaddi had to rush out to clear from Nikita Paris’s feet.
Kheira Hamraoui game off the bench to soon force Karen Bardsley into a smart low save, before McManus slid in to prevent Eugenie Le Sommer going clean through on goal and then Ada Hegerberg was unable to keep her shot down when unmarked ten yards out.
With time running out for the visitors, Beattie thwarted Le Sommer’s attempt to go one-on-one with the keeper.
Substitute Claire Emslie had City’s first effort on target but it was a simple save for Bouhaddi, as the holders won through to the final in Kiev.
.@OL 1-0 @ManCityWomen
Superbe but de @LucyBronze
(17e mn)#TeamOL pic.twitter.com/h7XHNNVBSO— OL_Plus (@OL_Plus) April 29, 2018
Lyon: 16 Bouhaddi, 3 Renard (C), 5 Kumagai, 7 Majri, 9 Le Sommer, 10 Marozsán, 14 Hegerberg, 22 Bronze, 23 Abily (11 Hamraoui, 67 mins), 26 Henry, 29 M’Bock Bathy
Unused Subs: 1 Peyraud-Magnin, 4 Bacha, 17 Petit, 19 van de Sanden, 20 Cascarino, 21 Buchanan
Manchester City: 1 Bardsley, 3 Stokes, 5 Beattie, 6 Houghton (C), 7 Lawley (10 Nadim, 65 mins), 8 Scott, 11 Christiansen (22 Emslie, 80 mins), 12 Stanway, 17 Parris, 23 McManus, 24 Walsh
Unused Subs: 26 Roebuck, 2 Jans, 4 Middag, 16 Ross, 18 Toone
