Cary, N.C. (August 18, 2019)- In a battle between the two best club teams in the world, the North Carolina Courage’s quest for a second consecutive Women’s International Champions Cup title came up just short Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Olympique Lyonnais in front of 8,208 fans at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
An evenly matched affair from start to finish, Sunday’s match had just one goal in it despite a plethora of great scoring chances for both sides. The visitors snatched what proved to be the game-winner in the 57th minute through a curling strike by midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan.
Having outshot Lyon 14-9 and reocrding three times as many shots on target, the Courage just missed out on repeating as WICC champions against the French club.
“I thought we were terrific,” NC Courage head coach Paul Riley said. “We battled to the end and it could have gone either way. It took a worthy goal to win the game.”
The Courage made an early impression on Lyon with a fast and physical start, as left back Merritt Mathias recorded the game’s first shot on target in the 15th minute, the first of several scoring chances for the home side.
The Courage’s best chance in the first half came in the 27th minute, as forward Kristen Hamilton made an overlapping run past forward Lynn Williams, whose through ball played Hamilton in on goal. With just Lyon goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi to beat, Hamilton saw her low-to-the-ground shot saved by the goalkeeper.
Right before the break, midfielder Samantha Mewis nearly gave the Courage the lead, but her shot from beyond the 18-yard-box in first-half stoppage time was stopped by a diving Bouhaddi. Nothing separated the two sides at halftime, and the Courage continued to push on out of the break.
In the 50th minute, midfielder Crystal Dunn caught Lyon’s Bouhaddi off her line and fired at an open net from about 30 yards out, but her effort went just high. Six minutes later, Hamilton nearly made the aggressive Bouhaddi pay with a shot that rolled wide left.
Even after Marozsan put Lyon on the board in the 57th minute, the Courage remained strong in the attack. Second-half substitute Jessica McDonald, Thursday night’s hero, came close in the 66th minute, as her strike was barely wide right. In the 83rd minute, Debinha tested Bouhaddi, cutting inside and forcing the Lyon goalkeeper to make a diving save at her near post.
Despite a push to the finish, the Courage never could find the back of the net, and Lyon saw out the win.
Notes
– The Courage’s four World Cup Winners from the U.S. Women’s National Team (Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn, Jessica McDonald and Samantha Mewis) all played together at home for the first time since April 17.
– The Courage outshot Lyon 14-9 and had a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.
– Courage goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe made two saves.
– Jessica McDonald, McKenzie Meehan, Heather O’Reilly, McCall Zerboni and Cari Roccaro appeared as second-half substitutes.
Up Next
The Courage return to NWSL action at home against Reign FC on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. For tickets and information please visit www.nccourage.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.
Box Score
NCC (4-2-2-2): Stephanie Labbe’; Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg ©, Abby Dahlkemper, Merritt Mathias (Heather O’Reilly, 90’); Denise O’Sullivan (McCall Zerboni, 90’), Samantha Mewis (Cari Roccaro, 90’); Crystal Dunn, Debinha (McKenzie Meehan, 84’); Kristen Hamilton (Jessica McDonald, 58’), Lynn Williams
Subs not used: Katelyn Rowland, Adelaide Gay, Sam Leshnak, Kaleigh Kurtz, Leah Pruitt, Abby Dahlkemper, Ryan Williams, Lauren Milliet, Peyton Perea, Shannon Horgan, Meredith Speck, Julia Spetsmark
â¨OL (4-4-2): Sarah Bouhaddi; Alex Greenwood, Wendie Renard ©, Griedge Mbock Bathy, Lucy Bronze; Amel Majri, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Amandine Henry, Nikita Parris (Shanice van de Sanden, 46’); Eugenie Le Sommer (Saki Kumagai, 61’), Ada Hegerberg
Subs not used: Kadeisha Buchanan, Eva Kouache, Jessica Silva, Emelyne Laurent, Melvine Malard, Isobel Christansen, Janice Cayman, Katriina Talaslahti, Lisa Weib, Delphine Casacarino
â¨
â¨Score:â¨
NCC: â¨0
OL: 1
Goals:â¨
NCC: ⨖
OL: â¨Dzsenifer Marozsan (assist ? Lucy Bronze, 57’)
Cautions: â¨
NCC: â¨Abby Dahlkemper 89’
OL: ⨠â¨Sarah Bouhaddi 68’
Ejections:â¨
NCC: ⨖
OL: ⨖
Attendance: 8,208
