Arsenal capitalizes on Lyon blunders to win 2-1 in Women's Champions League semifinals

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal benefited from two defensive blunders to rally for a 2-1 win over Lyon in the first leg of the Women's Champions League semifinals on Sunday, keeping the English club on course to defend its title.

Trailing to Jule Brand's 19th-minute goal for record eight-time champion Lyon, Arsenal was gifted an equalizer in the 59th when Mariona Caldentey's low free kick into the area was fumbled backward by goalkeeper Christiane Endler and onto the post. Lyon center back Ingrid Engen, stretching to make the clearance, inadvertently turned the ball into her own net.

Engen compounded that mistake by misreading a back-pass from teammate Lindsey Heaps in the 83rd minute. Olivia Smith got to the ball ahead of Engen, had a shot saved by Endler, and recovered to convert the rebound.

The return match is in Lyon on Saturday.

In the other semifinal, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are locked at 1-1 after the first leg in Germany.

The final will be in Oslo on May 23.

Arsenal is seeking to beat Lyon in the semifinal stage for a second straight year. Last season, Lyon won the first leg at Emirates Stadium but was thrashed 4-1 in the second match en route to Arsenal winning the title for the second time.

This time, Arsenal holds the advantage at halfway.

“Lyon are giants of European football and have a great crowd like we do,” Arsenal captain Leah Williamson said. "So an intensity that matches that occasion will be key. We have to be really clinical, defensively secure and we’ll see.”

A tight first half was illuminated by the solo goal from Brand, who ran through the heart of Arsenal's defense down the inside-left channel and cut into the area before shooting low inside the post.

In between Arsenal's goals, Lyon forward Kadidiatou Diani crashed a shot off the crossbar.

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OL Lyonnes' Jule Brand, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match between Arsenal and OL Lyonnes in London, England, Sunday April 26, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

OL Lyonnes' goalkeeper Christiane Endler, right, reacts as Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, left, celebrates her side's first goal during the Women's Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match between Arsenal and OL Lyonnes in London, England, Sunday April 26, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Olivia Smith celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the Women's Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match between Arsenal and OL Lyonnes in London, England, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Arsenal's players celebrate their side's second goal scored by Olivia Smith during the Women's Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match between Arsenal and OL Lyonnes in London, England, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Wyatt Langford hit a three–run home run, Jake Burger and Joc Pederson also went deep, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Thursday night.

Pederson went 2 for 3 with two walks and scored twice as Texas bounced back after losing the previous two.

Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto cut the deficit to one with a two-run homer off Jacob Latz in the ninth, his 18th.

Latz recovered by retiring Alejandro Kirk on a grounder and striking out pinch hitter Brandon Valenzuela for his 15th save in 17 chances.

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager went 0 for 2 and walked twice after being activated off the concussion list. The two-time World Series MVP missed 12 games.

Texas left-hander MacKenzie Gore (5-6) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, snapping a four-start winless streak.

Pederson led off with his 12th homer, capping an 11-pitch at bat with a 402-foot drive into the second deck. He fouled off seven pitches before homering.

Langford and Burger both connected in a five-run third. Langford, who also went deep in Wednesday’s loss at Miami, hit his eighth homer. Seven have come in 19 games since he returned from the injured list June 5.

Burger’s two-run shot was his 14th.

All three homers came off Kevin Gausman (4-6), who allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings, his sixth straight winless outing.

Gausman was hit hard by the Cubs in his previous start on June 19 when he gave up seven runs on seven hits in two innings.

Toronto scored three in the fifth. Davis Schneider hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Myles Straw followed with a two-run double.

The Blue Jays are 10-17 in series openers.

Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (7-7, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against Blue Jays LHP Patrick Corbin (2-3, 4.73).

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Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman reacts after giving up a solo home run to Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford (36) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford (36) celebrates his three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays with Joc Pederson (3) during the third of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (3) hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)