Arsenal stages 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid for Women's Champions League semifinal vs. Lyon

LONDON (AP) — Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to reach the Women’s Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid.

Mariona Caldentey scored the other as Arsenal grabbed three goals in 13 minutes to overturn the team’s 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal in the Spanish capital last week.

Caldentey, who used to torment Madrid while playing for Barcelona, wheeled away in delight after leveling the tie three minutes after Russo pulled a goal back as Arsenal couldn't have had a better start to the second half.

Russo fired Arsenal in front for the first time in the tie with an acrobatic finish in the 59th. It proved to be the winner in the 3-2 victory on aggregate.

The England star might have had a hat trick only to be denied by a VAR call for offside, then by Madrid goalkeeper Misa in a one-on-one, then by another offside call.

Arsenal needed a save from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in stoppage time to prevent Madrid star Linda Caicedo from sending the match to extra time.

Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalist Lyon as it seeks to win the trophy for the second time after success in 2007.

Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal earlier.

The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich.

Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week.

Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball through Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs ’ legs in stoppage time.

Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining its comeback hopes.

The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as it hosts Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0.

Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year's final.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, centre, and team-mates celebrate following the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, right, scores their side's first goal of the game before being ruled out for offside during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey, right, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game before being ruled out for offside during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, right, and Arsenal's Lia Walti celebrate following the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo scores their side's fourth goal of the game before being ruled out for offside during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game before being ruled out for offside during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers ahead of the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Real Madrid's Athenea, left, and Arsenal's Katie McCabe battle for the ball during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Steph Catley, right, and Real Madrid's Signe Bruun fight for the ball during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Katie McCabe, right, and Real Madrid's Signe Bruun fight for the ball during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, right, attempts a shot on goal during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Real Madrid's Sheila Garcia, left, and Arsenal's Frida Maanum battle for the ball during the Women's Champions League, quarter-final, second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)