Lyon dispatch holders Arsenal

Olympique Lyonnais continued their dream UEFA Women's Cup debut with a victory that eliminates Arsenal LFC and takes the French champions into the semi-finals.

Early strike
Arsenal, who had not lost since March 2006, recovered from an early Katia strike to go 2-1 up courtesy of strikes from Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey, before Camille Abily sent the teams in on level terms at the break. Trailing on away goals after the first leg ended 0-0, the hosts needed another goal, but it was Lyon who made sure of their progress when Elodie Thomis struck five minutes from time.

Spectacular goal
The hosts began brightly but fell behind when an unmarked Katia powered a header past Emma Byrne. Arsenal equalised within seven minutes though, when Smith raced onto a cute pass from Julie Fleeting before slotting past in. The second was not long in coming, and it arrived in spectacular fashion just after the half-hour, when Yankey curled in a cross after her original corner had been returned to her. However the French outfit silenced the home crowd seven minutes before the break when Abily jumped highest to dispatch a Sonia Bompastor cross, and swing the tie back in the visitors' favour.

Offside blow
Arsenal had a second-half goal ruled out for offside when Jayne Ludlow poked home from inside the six-yard box only to be denied by the assistant referee's flag. And any hopes Arsenal had of retaining the trophy were extinguished on 85 minutes when substitute Thomis held off Anita Asante to slot past Byrne. Lyon will discover their last-four opponents tomorrow, and they will meet Arsenal's final victims of last season Umeå IK unless KFC Rapide Wezemaal overturn a 4-0 deficit in Sweden.