Olivia Smith

Olivia Smith completed the comeback to give Arsenal a slender 2-1 advantage over Lyon in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals. Jule Brand had given Lyon the lead at Emirates Stadium, but a clumsy own goal was followed by Smith’s persistence, which resulted in a winner with seven minutes remaining. Arsenal started well, with Caitlin Foord […] The post Arsenal 2-1 Lyon: Smith completes comeback for first-leg advantage appeared first on Soccer News.

Holders will take a one-goal advantage into the semi-final second leg

LONDON, April 26 - Holders Arsenal came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over OL Lyonnes thanks to an own goal and a late strike from Canadian Olivia Smith in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Canada forward broke the £1m transfer barrier and now eyes Sunday’s semi-final first leg against Lyon Olivia Smith is tentatively laying down roots but remains alert to the changes that can be produced by football. The 21-year-old Arsenal forward, who has nine goals and three assists in her first season in north London, has lived a nomadic football life, driven by a desire to continuously improve and move up the ladder, rung by rung, without a pause. As the season reaches its climax, a Champions League semi-final against Lyon on Sunday is testament to how far up the ladder Smith has climbed. Now, she is heading towards unknown territory: a second season at the same club for the first time in her senior career. “I do feel quite calm now, knowing that I have set down some roots here, but at the end of the day, football is football and you never know what’s next,” she says. “So I’m always on my toes but, right now, I’m kind of laid-back, just enjoying the time here in the present with Arsenal and looking forward to winning more silverware and growing as a player and a person.”