Champions League Wrap: Lyon and Chelsea cruise into semi-finals

Kadidiatou Diani of Olympique Lyonnais celebrates scoring her team's third goal with teammates during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two match between Olympique Lyon and SL Benfica at OL Stadium on March 27, 2024 in Lyon

Kadidiatou Diani of Olympique Lyonnais celebrates scoring her team's third goal with teammates during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two match between Olympique Lyon and SL Benfica at OL Stadium on March 27, 2024 in Lyon Credit: Photo by Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Olympique Lyonnais had a comprehensive 4-1 Champions League quarter-final second leg win (6-2 on aggregate) over Benfica to earn a place in the semi-finals.

A brace of goals from player of the match Delphine Cascarino and Kadidiatou Diani (with two late injury times strikes) earned the French side the win on what was a record equaling 15th appearance at this stage of the competition for Lyon.

Line-ups

Lyon: Endler; Carpenter, Mbock Bathy, Gilles, Bacha (Morroni 70); Van de Donk (Majri 63), Horan, Däbritz (Egurrola 46); Diani, Le Sommer (Dumornay 46), Cascarino (Becho 76)

Benfica: Pauels; Araujo, Carole Costa (Andreia Norton 83), Ucheibe; Lucia Alves, Gasper, Andreia Faria (Jéssica Silva 57), Catarina Amado; Alidou (Almendariz 90 +4), Davidson (Falcón 83), Kika Nazareth

They were joined on Wednesday night in the last four by Chelsea who defeated Ajax 4-1 on aggregate. The second leg was a 1-1 draw in Stamford Bridge. Mayra Ramirez put the home side a goal up before Chasity Grant equalised on the night.

Thursday will see the remaining two quarter-finals with Barcelona at home to Brann and PSG playing Häcken in Paris. Both home sides are 2-1 up from the first leg.

Lyon will play the winner of the PSG/Häcken tie with the first leg in France. Chelsea will be away in the semi-final first leg against the winner of the Barcelona v Brann tie.