LYON, France — Forward Jule Brand scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute as OL Lyonnes beat titleholder Arsenal 3-1 to reach the Women’s Champions League final on Saturday.
Goals from captain Wendie Renard and striker Kadidiatou Diani put Lyon 2-0 up at halftime, but Alessia Russo’s competition-leading ninth goal looked to have sent the game into extra time.
But Brand latched onto Melchie Dumornay’s pass to make it 4-3 on aggregate for record eight-time champion Lyon, which lost the first leg 2-1.
Lyon will face either Bayern Munich or three-time champion Barcelona. They play on Sunday and are locked at 1-1 after the first leg in Germany, when Bayern goalscorer Franziska Kett was sent off for pulling the hair of an opponent.
The final will be in Oslo on May 23.
A frantic opening at Groupama Stadium saw a header from Lyon midfielder Lindsey Heaps ruled out following a video review.
But VAR went Lyon’s way midway through the first half when a penalty was awarded after defender Lotte Wubben-Moy fouled Dumornay from behind.
Lyonnes’ Jule Brand, left, scores her side’s third goal during the Women’s Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. Credit: AP/Laurent Cipriani
Renard scored the penalty on her second attempt.
Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar saved the first one but the kick was re-taken for encroachment in the area, and Renard sent her the wrong way with her second effort.
Arsenal benefited from two defensive blunders to win the first leg 2-1 in London, but struggled from corners against Lyon.
A corner from the left led to Lyon’s second goal in the 36th when Diani adroitly guided the ball in at the back post.
