OL Lyonnes continued their perfect start to the Women’s Champions League with a dominant 3–0 victory over St. Pölten, powered by goals from Jule Brand, Ada Hegerberg, and a stunning long-range strike from Lily Yohannes. The French side were in complete control from the opening whistle, and while the Austrian visitors defended bravely, they were ultimately outclassed by a side full of attacking quality and composure. Read our full match report on OL Lyonnes vs. St. Pölten here.
Match Highlights
- Brand opened the scoring in the first half.
- Hegerberg doubled the lead just before the break.
- Lily Yohannes scored number three for OL Lyonnes – from just over the halfway line, catching Schlüter off her line.
OL Lyonnes Struggled with Compact Defence
OL Lyonnes began the match on the front foot, immediately asserting their dominance and looking to break down a compact St. Pölten defense. Despite their attacking intent, they found it difficult to cut through early on, with several attempts to find Hegerberg well-read by the visitors. Two early efforts were saved by goalkeeper Schlüter, who stood strong to keep her side in the game during the opening 10 minutes.
St. Pölten maintained a disciplined defensive shape, frustrating OL Lyonnes’ forwards and limiting clear-cut chances. The Austrian side registered their first attempt in the 27th minute with a long-range strike that was comfortably gathered by Micah.
The home team opened the scoring
Just a minute later, OL Lyonnes’ relentless pressure finally paid off. A well-worked move began with Lawrence feeding Benyahia, who played a precise pass through to Becho. Her ball across the face of goal found Jule Brand arriving at the far post to tap in the opener. It was OL Lyonnes’ 16th shot of the half and their 8th on target, a testament to their offensive persistence.
St. Pölten nearly found an equalizer five minutes before the break when Brunold broke through on goal, pursued closely by two OL Lyonnes defenders. Her shot was well-struck, but Micah produced a top-class save to preserve the lead.
OL Lyonnes doubled their advantage just before the halftime whistle. A pinpoint cross from Nelhage found Hegerberg at the far post, and the striker made no mistake with a clinical finish to make it 2-0 going into the break.
Lily Yohannes on the Scoresheet
Both teams returned from the break without making changes, and it was OL Lyonnes who resumed control immediately. Schlüter continued her strong performance in goal, making several early saves to keep her side in the game.
However, there was little she could do to stop OL Lyonnes’ third goal in the 52nd minute. Lily Yohannes produced a moment of brilliance, spotting Schlüter off her line and chipping her from just beyond the halfway line, a spectacular goal that stunned the crowd and showcased Yohannes’ vision and technique.
The French side thought they had added a fourth soon after when Becho headed home at the far post from a corner. However, after a VAR review for a potential foul in the buildup, the goal was ruled out.
Another Chance for Brunold
The hosts remained dominant throughout the half, pinning St. Pölten deep into their own territory. Brunold had another breakout chance for the visitors, similar to her opportunity in the first half, but once again failed to convert, sending her shot wide.
With five minutes remaining, the one-sided nature of the match was reflected in the statistics: OL Lyonnes had completed 510 passes compared to just 124 by St. Pölten. Four minutes of stoppage time were added, but St. Pölten couldn’t mount a late response. The match ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for OL Lyonnes, handing the Austrian side their second defeat in the Women’s Champions League, while the French giants secured their second consecutive victory in the League Phase
How to watch the Women’s Champions League?
All the matches are available on Disney+. If you’re considering to use a VPN service: We recommend NordVPN, it isn’t free, but it’s safe and cheaper than juggling multiple subscriptions that may still only cover part of the schedule.
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