Chelsea draw scoreless with Lyon as Katie McCabe misses match
- Chelsea was held to a scoreless draw by Lyon during the second round of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday.
- The Blues sit fifth in the 18-team league phase standings following the result.
- Katie McCabe missed the fixture entirely after featuring in the starting lineup for Chelsea's 1-0 victory over former club Arsenal on the preceding weekend.
Chelsea was held to a scoreless draw by Lyon during the second round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday. Despite the absence of Republic of Ireland midfielder Katie McCabe from the matchday squad in France, Sonia Bompastor’s side secured a point thanks to a crucial late save by England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
The Blues sit fifth in the 18-team league phase standings following the result. Chelsea previously defeated Austria Wien in the opening round of the competition, but missed an opportunity to claim all three points against Lyon after referee Marta Huerta De Aza overturned two potential penalty decisions. Sjoeke Nusken and Lauren James were both seemingly fouled inside the penalty area, but the official reversed her initial judgments after consulting the VAR monitor.
Squad Absences and Standings Impact
Katie McCabe missed the fixture entirely after featuring in the starting lineup for Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over former club Arsenal on the preceding weekend. The 31-year-old Dubliner aims to return to action when Chelsea faces West Ham in the Women’s Super League. Following that domestic fixture, McCabe is scheduled to join Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their upcoming World Cup play-off semi-final against Kazakhstan.
While McCabe is suspended for the first leg in Astana, she is expected to be available for the return leg at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Controversial Drama in Arsenal Fixture
In other UEFA Women’s Champions League action, Arsenal conceded a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Paris FC. Goals on either side of the interval from England pair Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway had positioned embattled Arsenal boss Renee Slegers to celebrate a back-to-back victory in the tournament. With 18 minutes remaining, Clara Mateo pulled a goal back prior to Williamson being controversially whistled for a penalty-box handball while under the belief that play had not yet resumed. Paris was awarded a penalty as a consequence, converted by Maeline Mendy to split the points. Bayern secured a routine 3-0 victory against Benfica, while Barcelona climbed to the summit with a pair of victories following a dominant 6-0 triumph away at Roma.