Women's Champions League: Chelsea Women 1-1 Lyon Feminines (2-3 agg)
- Published
Highlights: Chelsea 1-1 Lyon (Lyon win 3-2 on agg)
Chelsea were knocked out of the Women's Champions League after a terrific semi-final second leg against holders Lyon.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, Lyon went further ahead through Eugenie Le Sommer's deflected shot but Chelsea hit back with Ji So-Yun's superb free-kick.
The Blues pushed for a leveller in the second half but Karen Carney struck the post as both sides went close.
The French team's 3-2 aggregate win sent them through to a fourth straight final and their eighth since 2010.
Spanish outfit Barcelona await them in 18 May's showdown in Budapest, as British women's football's 12-year wait for a European finalist continues, but Chelsea will feel unfortunate not to be there.
A lively crowd of 4,670 - the Londoners' largest for a women's match at Kingsmeadow - were treated to a gripping second leg, and they would have seen extra time if England winger Carney's curling effort had not bounced back off the post.
But Lyon - bidding for a fourth consecutive title - could have won the end-to-end tie by more goals late on, as Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg scuffed over from close range in stoppage time.
Eugenie Le Sommer netted Lyon's deflected opener on 17 minutes
Semi-final heartbreak again for Chelsea
The result saw the Blues exit the competition at the semi-final stage for a second successive campaign, but they will have drawn praise from across the continent for their valiant attempt to oust the champions.
Chelsea had given themselves hope with Scotland international Erin Cuthbert's well-taken away goal in the closing stages of the first leg in France.
They endured a frustrating start to Sunday's second leg as Le Sommer's effort was diverted in off Maren Mjelde's trailing leg.
Yet they responded with fighting spirit and were rewarded when South Korea's Ji dipped home a fantastic free-kick, although Chelsea felt Delphine Cascarino's foul on Cuthbert that led to the set-piece had occurred inside the box.
The hosts were also frustrated not to have been awarded a penalty when the ball hit Lucy Bronze's arm in the area, and later England defender Millie Bright's scrambled shot was blocked at point-blank range.
Drew Spence poked agonisingly wide at the far post as the hosts pressed further, but ultimately they could not thwart a Lyon outfit who have been European football's dominant force in this decade.
And Chelsea's elimination means they will not feature in the Champions League next season, after also missing out on a top-two spot in the Women's Super League this term.
Duggan's Catalan giants set for Lyon showdown
England right-back Lucy Bronze and Wales legend Jess Fishlock both featured for the French club, who have won the final five times since 2011.
Sunday's other semi-final second leg saw Barcelona complete a 2-0 aggregate victory over German giants Bayern Munich, with the Catalan club having held a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
England forward Toni Duggan started for the hosts, who became the first Spanish side to reach a European women's final, with Spain forward Mariona Caldentey's penalty clinching their progress.
Barcelona were also backed by a club-record crowd, with 12,764 enjoying their second leg, on the same day that Brighton and Arsenal played in front of a new WSL-record crowd of 5,265.
This year's final will be held in Hungary's capital on Saturday, 18 May, before this summer's Women's World Cup in France begins on 7 June.
Hayes wants to find 'cutting edge' after a 'nearly' season
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes: "We have gone toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, so I'll take it. We didn't quite get the rub of the green.
"I'm disappointed we had a poor official in the middle. You really need strong officials at this level.
"But also we had our chances and we didn't take them, and again a mistake has cost us and we're not progressing as a result of it.
"We've been a strong side all year but we've lacked something in the attacking box when it mattered. It's very much been a 'nearly' season.
"[Reaching] three semi-finals is something to be proud of. But we're going to have to find that cutting edge, and that work has already started for next season."
England and Lyon right-back Lucy Bronze: "It's amazing. That's why I came to play at a team like Lyon, because we find a way to make it to finals.
"It was like an English game. Chelsea pushed us right to the end but I think we showed our quality across the two games.
"We were the better team. We can play a lot better, but Chelsea played really well. Ultimately we've qualified, so it's fine.
"At Lyon we have all the best players. They know how to win and that's what they love doing. I'm excited to play against Barcelona and see how that match plays out."
Wales and Lyon midfielder Jess Fishlock: "That match was huge. Both teams had chances and played well.
"Towards the end it was a little bit sketchy for us. We played on Wednesday so I think the fatigue came in to it a little bit towards the end.
"We knew we had to grind it out and we did. It was really physical. [Both teams] were desperate for the win. It could have gone either way today, more than last week."