Two goals in two minutes by substitute Kadidiatou Diani roused Lyon to a late-surging 4-1 win over Roma on Wednesday and a place in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals. Roma stung the record eight-time European champion by taking a 74th-minute lead that provoked a fierce fightback, started by veteran France forward Diani scoring from close range on corners in the 77th and 79th. Chelsea and Real Madrid also won in Group B to join Lyon in the knockout stage with two rounds to spare.
Lucy Bronze’s spectacular volley after just 64 seconds set Chelsea on its way to a fourth straight win, 3-0 over last-place Celtic. Teenager Linda Caicedo, the 2023 World Cup star for Colombia, was Madrid’s standout in a 3-2 win at Twente after trailing in the first half. Germany great Alexandra Popp scored a hat trick and had two assists in Wolfsburg’s 5-0 win against overmatched Galatasaray.
That set up a key game on Dec. 11 when Wolfsburg hosts Roma, both on six points, with second place behind Lyon at stake. Heavily favored Lyon had not conceded a goal in three straight wins in the Champions League before being stunned by Roma's 18-year-old Giulia Dragoni.
The on-loan forward from Barcelona scored with a left-footed shot that was Roma's only on-target effort all game. Lyon awoke and from near identical spots from the right flank, Kadidiatou Diani pounced on loose balls to score from three yards (meters) each time. Another substitute, Eugenie Le Sommer, had an immediate impact by s.