Lyon beats Arsenal 2-1 in first leg of Women's Champions League semifinals

Lyon weathered a second-half fightback by Arsenal to claim a 2-1 away win in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semifinals on Saturday, putting the record eight-time champions on course for another title match.

Melchie Dumornay, Lyon’s 21-year-old star forward from Haiti, surged through the Arsenal defense to slot home a low finish in the 82nd minute at Emirates Stadium in London and secure the team's ninth straight victory in the Champions League this season.

Lyon — unbeaten in all competitions this campaign — was hanging on at that time, with Mariona Caldentey having converted a penalty four minutes earlier to cap a resurgence by Arsenal after halftime. The spot kick was awarded after Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler punched Arsenal captain Leah Williamson in the back of the head while attempting to clear an inswinging corner, with the VAR intervening to spot the foul.

There was also a video review for the 17th-minute opener scored by France winger Kadidiatou Diani, who was initially given offside after driving home a shot — only for that to be overturned after a VAR check.

The second leg will be in Lyon on April 27, with the French team seeking to reach the final for a record 12th time in its bid for a ninth title — and first since 2022.

“It’s a stage of the competition when it’s all about results," said Lyon coach Joe Montemurro, who was previously in charge at Arsenal.

"You have to find a way and suffer — sometimes, the football isn’t the best, but we have a strong team of characters who have the ability to find a way in these special moments.”

Defending champion Barcelona plays Chelsea in the other semifinal, with the first leg in Spain on Sunday.

Arsenal is the only English team to win the Women’s Champions League. That was in 2007 and the club hasn’t reached the final since.

Dumornay impressed for Lyon throughout, striking the crossbar with a 40-meter shot in the 33rd minute before eventually finding the target to halt Arsenal's second-half momentum and bolster her reputation as one of the world's best young players.

“We had some really good spells,” Arsenal striker Alessia Russo said, “but they are very, very clinical up top.”

The result strengthen the chances of a Lyon vs. Barcelona final for the fourth time in the last seven seasons.

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

Lyon's Damaris Egurrola, center, greets Arsenal's Victoria Pelova at the end of the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon's Kadidiatou Diani runs with the ball watched by teammate Lyon's Ada Hegerberg, left, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon's Melchie Dumornay runs with the ball during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon's Melchie Dumornay scores her side's second goal past Arsenal's Emily Fox, right, and Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger, foreground, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal fans wave flags on the stands during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Beth Mead controls the ball next to Lyon's Tabitha Chawinga, left, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Frida Maanum, left, attempts a header at goal during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo checks on teammate Beth Mead, injured on the ground, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon's Melchie Dumornay grimaces on the ground after a clash with Arsenal's Steph Catley, left, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey, center, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal from the penalty spot during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler leaps for a save during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Leah Williamson takes a shot next to Lyon's Melchie Dumornay, right, during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Lyon's Melchie Dumornay, Alice Sombath, Lindsey Heaps, Kadidiatou Diani and Vanessa Gilles, from left, react after Diani scored the opening goal during the women's Champions League semifinals, first leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at the Arsenal Stadium, in London, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams came through in his playoff debut, throwing a go-ahead, 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 remaining, and the Chicago Bears rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the rival Green Bay Packers 31-27 in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday night.

The NFC North champion Bears (12-6) extended their resurgent first season under coach Ben Johnson with their seventh fourth-quarter comeback victory. They split two down-to-the-wire games with Green Bay in the regular season, and this one turned out to be a thriller when it looked like it would be a breeze for the Packers (9-8-1).

Chicago trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 through three quarters, only to outscore Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth on the way to its first playoff win in 15 years.

Williams found a wide-open Moore along the left sideline to give Chicago a 31-27 lead with 1:43 remaining.

Jordan Love then led Green Bay into Chicago territory. But on third down at the 28, Jaquan Brisker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired, setting off a wild celebration — and a curt handshake between Johnson and Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

The Bears will host a divisional-round game next weekend.

Chicago pulled within 21-16 on D’Andre Swift’s 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Packers responded, with rookie Matthew Golden breaking three tackles and leapfrogging a fourth defender on a 23-yard catch-and-run for his first career touchdown, making it 27-16. Brandon McManus missed the extra point wide left.

The Bears then went 76 yards, with Williams throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus and hitting rookie Colston Loveland for the 2-point conversion to make it 27-24 with 4:18 remaining.

The Packers then drove to the Chicago 21, only to come away with nothing when McManus missed wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt. The Bears responded with the go-ahead touchdown drive and hung on for their first playoff win since the 2010 team beat Seattle in the divisional round at Soldier Field. They had lost three straight in the postseason, starting with a loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC championship game that season.

Green Bay dominated Chicago for years. But the momentum in the NFL's longest-running rivalry seems to be turning, with the Bears beating the Packers for the third time in the past five games.

The Bears envisioned nights like this when they drafted Williams No. 1 overall last year, and when they hired Johnson in the offseason. Williams delivered after a shaky start, throwing for 361 yards and the two late touchdowns. He completed 24 of 48 passes and was intercepted twice.

Loveland caught eight passes for 137 yards for the Bears, who had closed the regular season with tight losses to San Francisco and Detroit.

The Packers finished a season that began with Super Bowl hopes by dropping five in a row.

Love threw for 323 and four touchdowns after missing the final two regular-season games. He hadn’t played since a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker in the second quarter of a Week 16 loss at Soldier Field.

Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed each had TD catches in the first half. Ty’Ron Hopper stopped a threat in the third quarter when he intercepted a backpedaling Williams near the goal line.

Packers: RT Zach Tom (knee) was inactive after missing the Packers’ final three regular-season games. ... Backup OL Jacob Monk (biceps) left the game in the first half.

Bears: LB T.J. Edwards was carted off the field with an left ankle injury in the second quarter. His left foot got caught up with the leg of Watson and bent awkwardly. He was fitted with an air cast before he was carted away. ... CB Kyler Gordon (groin) was activated from injured reserve after being sidelined since Week 13.

Packers: Start the offseason.

Bears: Host a divisional-round game against either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia. The Eagles play San Francisco on Sunday, and the Rams knocked out Carolina on Saturday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers' Jayden Reed catches a touchdown pass in front of Chicago Bears' Tremaine Edmunds during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears' Colston Loveland runs after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams throws during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Green Bay Packers' Matthew Golden gets past Chicago Bears' Montez Sweat for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears' DJ Moore catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)