When we sent shockwaves from Lyon

We’ve got it all to do at Groupama Stadium as we look to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final away to Lyon, and we don’t need to look too far back for inspiration.

On October 19, 2022, we won 5-1 away to the then-holders of the Champions League thanks to goals from Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum and Beth Mead, who was still riding the wave of her Euro 2022 success.

Lyon had never lost by three or more goals in this competition, and had not conceded more than four in a game for 17 years before this result.

It took just 13 minutes for us to open the scoring when Kim Little played the ball over the top to Mead, who knocked it across goal for Foord to convert from close range.

Lia Walti was next to pull the strings, threading a pass through for Stina Blackstenius to run onto. Her effort was saved by Christiane Endler, but the rebound fell to Maanum who connected sweetly to double our lead.

Melvine Malard pulled one back from a Lyon corner, but we restored our two-goal advantage as Mead curled a free-kick into the bottom right corner from long range.

Wendie Renard gave the ball away sloppily in the second half, allowing Foord to bend it into the far corner from distance, and Mead put the cherry on top of a magnificent performance when she netted our fifth.

AWFC Lyon (A)

The result was even more impressive considering we only had 47% of possession, as well as 14 shots to 21 from Sonia Bompastor’s Lyon.

“It’s the best game we’ve played in a long time,” Player of the Match Mead said afterwards. “Everything we did on the ball and off the ball was very good. Considering the type of team we were playing, we played very well.”

Maanum added: "It was fun to play out there! It was a really good performance from the team and really enjoyable. I’d rate it up there as a top performance from me and the team.

“I was supposed to play more as a number ten today. I usually play as a six or eight, but I’ve played that role with my team before in Sweden as well, so I like that position too.”

LINE-UPS

Lyon: Endler, Jaurena (Egurrola 38), Renard (C), Sombath, Bacha (Morroni 81), Henry, Van de Donk (Bruun 80), Heaps, Cayman, Le Sommer, Malard (Becho 87)

Arsenal: Zinsberger, Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Little (C), Walti (Nobbs 76), Maanum, Mead, Blackstenius (Miedema 79), Foord (Hurtig 79)

Want to re-live the action all over again with some fun commentary from Manuela Zinsberger and Katie McCabe? Check it out below!