Olympic Lyonnaise winner of the ICC International Champions Cup (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
The centenary French club, Olympique Lyonnais, won their first title of the year, after a decisive 4-0 win over CF Monterrey at Providence Park in the final of the Women’s International Champions Cup. Lyon’s star midfielder Lindsey Horan, with three goals (two in the final), was awarded with the Player of the Tournament.
The match started very differently, with CF Monterrey playing toe to toe with Lyon, creating chances, and at times dominating the match, keeping goal keeper Christiane Endler, and the Lyon defense on their toes. A hard working midfield kept the pressure making very difficult for the French champions to circulate the ball. Their best chances came out of Monterrey long balls to forwards Melvine Malard and Delphine Cascarino.
Monterrey loyal to their playing philosophy, attempted the upset and looked that it had enough football arguments for that debate until minute 39 when in an unlucky challenge. Monterrey’s defender Isabella Echeverri, brought down Mallard. Referee Alicia Messer didn’t doubt it and called the penalty.
Ex-Portland Thorns and Olympique Lyonnais star Lindsey Horan slotted the first goal of the night and the game changed completely. Four minutes later, Melvine Mallard again, advancing on the right side of Alejandra Godínez goal, served a perfect cross past to the right when Lindsey Horan who took a first touch volley to the net, a stunner of a goal.
Lindsey Horan was awarded the MVP of the tournament (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
The second half, saw Olympique Lyonnais impose it’s discipline and athletic prowess shutting down any reaction from an eager CF Monterrey who gave it all. Two times more, Sara Dabritz in minute 53 and Signe Bruun in minute 64, extended the advantage and the match ended with Lyon closer to increase their advantage, rather than Monterrey looking able to narrow the score.
During post game conferences Monterrey’s coach Eva Espejo, said she was very proud of that first half where they were able to play face to face to one of the worlds best teams, and was thankful for the experience of the whole tournament, where she said there were very valuable lessons she learned. Espejo, highlighted though the differences on the league’s, not just the team’s enormous budget difference, but also on organizational resources.
Monterrey’s coach, concluded, “They have more resources, and I am not just talking about monetary issues, but staff, attention to the players, they have more opportunities to tend to the players, and not just for one tournament but as a system. We can grow to a great level, we have to start focusing on those details that they cover so much better and allow them to develop other type of things on the field with the same players. Obviously that sets a very high bar for me, to try to take this Rayadas (Monterrey), to that level of professionalism, and we can bring it to these stages, where we can make the difference with all this small details that always add up in each of the minutes that we play”.
Olympique Lyonnais
ICC
