Lyon Sink Wolfsburg, Retain Women’s Champions League Title
It’s 5th consecutive triumph, 7th overall
Another majestic display by Olympique Lyon of France won them UEFA Women’s Champions League for a record fifth consecutive year as they beat Wolfsburg 3-1 in San Sebastian.
Sunday’s victory saw England right-back, Lucy Bronze win her third straight European crown with the French club, who now have a record seven continental titles.
Indeed, it has been a glorious five years for Lyon and they remain determined that no opponents will not snatch the coveted crown from them as undisputed female champions of Europe.
Superb in the first half; resolute in the second, they deservedly are European champions again, with captain Wendie Renard lifting a trophy she and the Club have now won seven times.
A comprehensive 3-1 win over German side, Wolfsburg extended that dominance as goals from Eugénie Le Sommer, Saki Kumagai and Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir saw them end another untouchable season showered with confetti, this time in San Sebastián.
The Icelander, Gunnarsdóttir, who joined Lyon from Wolfsburg only last month and would have been eligible for a medal whoever won, barely celebrated when she got the late goal that finally secured the trophy in what were shaping up to be difficult final minutes.
Her teammates, though, did, subs streaming on to the pitch to join them at the final whistle. They are used to winning but it is a feeling they continue to chase voraciously, driven by players that are still the envy of the continent.
Two up by half time, Lyon saw Wolfsburg pull one back to make it 2-1 and threaten to drag this game into extra time, just like the previous two times they met in the final.
But as the minutes ticked away and the tension built, the French club escaped to victory. Le Sommer smashed a shot that hit Gunnarsdóttir and went in from a couple of yards.
Lyon have continuously proven themselves as a side of character as well as quality, Bronze rose to the challenge supported by Kadeisha Buchanan, and collectively the champions resisted, holding what they had: a fifth consecutive European Cup.
When the ball flew in off the heel of Gunnarsdóttir with two minutes left, it left no one in doubt that it was all over and the prestigious trophy theirs once again.
