sport news Lyon 0-1 Chelsea: Guro Reiten scores as the Blues earn a narrow quarter-final ... trends now
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Erin Cuthbert has long been deemed an all-rounder, a player who can fill in anywhere. In three swift moves she showed every side of her game to create the moment of magic that saw Chelsea beat Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Cuthbert had won the ball in midfield and was racing towards goal, followed closely by Ellie Carpenter who tried to wrestle her off the ball. Cuthbert shrugged her off, then instinctively nutmegged the on-coming Damaris Egurrola as she continued to drive forward. Approaching the box, Cuthbert feigned to shoot before playing a no-look pass into the path of Guro Reiten. The winger, first time, hit a curling shot into the far corner of the net.
First it was tenacious, then it was audacious and then it was sublime. It was everything that typifies Cuthbert and this Chelsea team.
They have not always been at their best this season. They suffered a stinging defeat in the Continental Cup final against rivals Arsenal in a performance that boss Emma Hayes called unacceptable. But Chelsea always find a way to respond.
Chelsea winger Guro Reiten scored the opening goal of the quarter-final against Lyon
Erin Cuthbert created the goal with a moment of magic to give the Blues a first leg advantage
Reiten sent a curling effort beyond the dive of Christiane Endler after being set up by Cuthbert
When the Blues were beaten by Manchester City in last year’s League Cup final, they went the rest of the season undefeated, winning the WSL and the FA Cup. They have won four games in a row since that loss against Arsenal - including a top-of-the-table clash against Manchester United and this first leg against the European champions.
The tie is far from over and Chelsea will still have to perform at Stamford Bridge next week. But this was a performance that signified they can compete and beat the best of Europe.
There is no doubt Chelsea have a point to prove in this competition after collapsing in their final group game fixture last season to crash out earlier than expected.
Hayes worked under Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor at Washington Spirit in 2011 and got the better of her counterpart here.
Lyon were wasteful in
