How OL scuttled themselves in Turin, between the expulsion of Carpenter and the fatal error of Bouhaddi

This Thursday morning, OL navigates between “a lot of frustration and anger” for Amandine Henry, and “a great disappointment” for Sonia Bompastor. How could the Lyonnaises let slip, Wednesday in Turin, this beautiful option which held out their arms in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League against Juventus (from 0-1 to 2-1)? This is the question they will rehash until the return match, March 31 (9 p.m.) at Parc OL, where Wendie Renard’s gang will clearly be in danger.

Lyon had however quickly taken the lead on Wednesday thanks to a nice header from their young American Catarina Macario (0-1, 8th). But finally deprived of Ada Hegerberg (sick), the Lyonnaises were unable to take shelter during a rather controlled first hour of play. And “the turning point of the match” (dixit Sonia Bompastor) then occurred with a blunder by Australian side Ellie Carpenter at the level of the central circle.

Ellie Carpenter’s ‘fatal’ red card

Surprised by a very high rebound after a Turin dismissal, she was trapped on her control, despite a few seconds ahead at the start, by Valentina Cernoia. Then forced to hook the Italian attacking midfielder, who was spinning alone in goal, Ellie Carpenter was logically expelled (62nd). “We ran after the ball a lot more because of this red card, summarizes her teammate Delphine Cascarino. It was fatal for us. “As fatal as the feverishness of Sarah Bouhaddi, who was unable to take advantage of the injury of the titular goalkeeper Christiane Endler, injured in the right knee.

Back since January from her loan to OL Reign, she was first of all at the origin of Juve’s only big chance in the first period, by signing a catastrophic raise directly on Wendie Renard, which Lina almost took advantage of. Hurtig (2nd). Then at 10 against 11, Sarah Bouhaddi failed to reassure her team, letting out a harmless cross, before colliding with Arianna Caruso. Cristiana Girelli took advantage of this ball to equalize and relaunch the double confrontation (1-1, 72nd).

“We all have to question ourselves and remobilize”

The coup de grace came from a disagreement between two equally experienced players, Wendie Renard and Lindsey Horan, which resulted in the goal of Agnese Bonfantini (2-1, 83rd). After a 2020-2021 season without a single trophy won, OL will therefore be under pressure next week. The heavy elimination in the Coupe de France against PSG (3-0) and the intriguing draw (1-1) at Saint-Etienne in D1 had already highlighted the fragility of this group at the start of the year, after a almost perfect first part of the season.

Elimination in the quarter-finals of the Champions League would be a big failure for the Lyon team, which clearly aims to win its 8th European title. “There is still a return match and we must all question ourselves, remobilise, warns Delphine Cascarino. It is in difficulty that we see the great teams. It will therefore be the ideal moment to react, on March 31 at Parc OL.

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