James penalty overturned as Chelsea earn draw in Lyon — SkimNews
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- Chelsea drew 0-0 with Lyon at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in a Women's Champions League group-stage fixture against the competition's eight-time winners and last season's beaten finalists.
- Lauren James saw a penalty overturned by VAR deep into the match after referee Marta Huerta de Aza consulted the review monitor, having initially awarded the spot kick when James went down under a challenge from Lyon's Damaris Egurrola.
- Ada Hegerberg went closest for Lyon in added time, forcing a full-length save from Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
- Lauren James had earlier wasted Chelsea's clearest opening, shooting straight at Lyon keeper Maria Grohs from an Alyssa Thompson pull back.
- The match marked Sonia Bompastor's first return to her former club, where she won the Champions League as Lyon manager in 2022, with both sides appearing content to settle for a point.
- Lucy Bronze told Disney+ a draw was "probably not the worst thing" at this stage of the season, noting Chelsea had played "a very difficult game three days ago against Arsenal."
Why it matters: Chelsea escape Lyon with a clean sheet and a point from their second match in three days, avoiding defeat at the competition's most decorated club but squandering a late penalty moment that could have stolen all three points. For Bompastor, the result is a creditable first return to her former side, though Bronze's own assessment — a draw is fine here — underscores that neither team generated enough clear-cut chances to deserve a winner.
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