Lyon seal third women's Champions League title

Reggio Emilia (Italy) (AFP) – Lyon claimed their third women’s Champions League title on Thursday with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Wolfsburg after the final finished 1-1 in Reggio Emilia.

Norwegian Ada Hederberg gave the French side a 12th-minute lead, but OL failed to put the game to bed and Germany international striker Alexandra Popp pounced to equalise with just two minutes left of the regular 90.

Extra time could not separate the two teams, who now have five Champions League crowns between them, as it went to penalties.

Two-time winners Wolfsburg, who beat Lyon in the 2013 final, were given an immediate boost in the shootout as 20-year-old Hegerberg, the top scorer in the competition this term with 13 goals in nine games, missed Lyon’s opening spot-kick.

But goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi saved Hegerberg’s blushes with stops from Nilla Fischer and former Lyon teammate Elise Bussaglia, to give her team a 4-3 win on penalties.

“During the shoot out we never stopped believing and Sarah made the saves, We were getting sick of losing to German sides on penalties,” Lyon midfielder Camille Abily said after the game.