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)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Daylen Lile tripled to key a four-run rally in the eighth inning, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews added RBIs and the Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Los Angeles dropped to 56-93 and must win at least seven of its last 13 games to avoid its first 100-loss season.

Washington improved to 3-61 when trailing after seven innings, sweeping the Angels for the first time.

Erik Tolman (1-1) threw a run-scoring wild pitch and Moisés Ballesteros hit a sacrifice fly that put Los Angeles ahead 4-2 in the eighth.

Yohandy Morales singled off Luke Murphy (0-3) starting the eighth and Lile triple and pinch-hitter Jorbit Vivas hit an RBI single that tied the score 4-4. Young hit a go-ahead double that chased Murphy and Crews hit a two-out RBI single.

Jack Sinclair got his first professional save, allowing Christian Moore's run-scoring groundout.

Moisés Ballesteros and Zach Neto hit solo homers for the Angels. Neto matched his career best of 26 homers.

Angels: LHP Reid Detmers (5-8, 3.32 ERA) starts Monday against visiting Seattle and LHP Kade Anderson (1-1, 4.29).

Nationals: LHP Jackson Kent (1-4, 6.59) starts at home Tuesday night against Philadelphia and LHP Cristopher Sánchez (17-5, 2.79 ERA).

See AP's full MLB coverage here

Washington Nationals' James Wood singles during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Home plate umpire Todd Tichenor, center, is helped up after being hit by a foul tip by Los Angeles Angels' Wade Meckler during the first inning of a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Angels, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jack Sinclair reacts at the end of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, right, and manager Kurt Suzuki, left, hug before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)