Temperatures were rising in Portland, Oregon as the Blues took to the pitch last night for the WICC double bill. This was Chelsea’s second pre-season fixture following a behind-closed-doors game against Norweigan top-flight side, Arna-Bjornar.

Magda Eriksson led the team out at Providence Park with new Blue and former Lyon defender, Kadeisha Buchanan making the starting line-up while three other summer additions were on the bench.

Chelsea had a dominant start and gained an eighth minute lead through Sam Kerr, who latched onto Erin Cuthbert’s perfectly placed before superbly chipping the ball over the goalkeeper.

Emma Hayes’s side kept up the pressure with an attempt from Pernille Harder flashing just wide.

The pressure was upheld by the Blues with a duo of corners conceded by Lyon within a matter of minutes. Guro Reiten stepped up for both with her second attempt picking out Kerr, who was unfortunate not to direct a glancing header into the bottom corner.

Three-minutes of extra time was added in the first-half with Cuthbert receiving a yellow card for a late challenge just before the whistle blew on the first half.

We doubled our lead in the 50th minute when Lauren James received the ball in the box from Kerr, before emphatically curling into the top left corner.

A third goal nearly came just seven minutes later, with Kerr breaking free to play out to Harder who was perfectly positioned in front of the goal but wasn’t able to find the back of the net, dragging her effort wide.

Following a trio of Lyon subs, Hayes made a quadruple change for the Blues with 30 minutes left. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Millie Bright, Eve Perisset and Sophie Ingle all entering the action.

Hayes’s side continued to push for more, with two further attempts coming in quick succession just past the 70 minute mark. First, Cuthbert muscled past three Lyon defenders in the box to get a solid shot on target which was saved, before Perisset's free-kick was touched over by Buchanan at the back post.

The final round of changes were made on both sides with Bethany England and Jess Carter taking to the pitch. The momentum started to shift in the final quarter for Lyon following the changes, with Linsey Horan scoring in the 76th minute with an impressive free kick. A late equaliser then followed in the 88th minute from Signe Bruun, setting the stage for a penalty shootout.

Penalties

Perisset took the first – scores high straight down the middle 0-1

Horan first for Lyon – hits the left-hand side post 0-1

Cuthbert steps up next – misses sending the ball high 0-1

Malard next – scores bottom left 1-1

Nouwen for Chelsea – confidentially shoots into the bottom right 1-2

Bruun up for Lyon – fired into the left-hand side 2-2

Vice-captain Bright up next – a powerful smash down the line but Endler was there to deny 2-2

Cayman - sent it to the top right corner, just out of Musovic's reach 3-2

Buchanan up next – powering it into the back of the net 3-3

Benyahia converted the deciding penalty with Lyon advancing to the final where they will take on Monterrey on Saturday, who defeated the Portland Thorns 3-2 - also on penalties.

Next up the Blues will play the defending WICC champions, Portland Thorns on Saturday in the final match of our tournament.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Musovic, Charles (Carter 73), Eriksson (cap) (Bright 59), Buchanan, Mjelde (Perisset 59), Cuthbert, Harder (Nouwen 88), Fleming (Ingle 59), Reiten (Svitkova 88), James (Rytting Kaneryd 59), Kerr (England 73).

Olympique Lyonnais (3-3-1-3): Endler, Cayman, Mbock (Marques 60), Henry (Jaurena 25), Morroni, Damaris (Benyahia 60), Horan, Dabritz (Van de Donk 46), Cascarino (Bruun 46), Le Sommer.D (Bahlouli 63), Bacha (Malard 46).

Referee Natalie Simon
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