Chelsea manager Emma Hayes on Thursday lauded Ann-Katrin Berger as the “best pen-saving goalkeeper I’ve worked with” after the Germany international’s heroics helped the Blues knock holders Olympique Lyonnais out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The 32-year-old, diagnosed with thyroid cancer for a second time in August last year, made two saves in a penalty shoot-out Chelsea won 4-3 to set-up a semi-final with Barcelona.
An already dramatic two-legged tie finished level at 2-2, but only after Chelsea substitute Maren Mjelde scored a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage-time time at the end of extra-time to send the match to spot-kicks.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Mjelde then scored the first penalty of the shoot-out.
Berger later denied Wendie Renard, before ending the match when she got a strong hand to US international Lindsey Horan’s strike low to the bottom-left corner.
The Blues’ success sparked joyous scenes at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea — yet to win the Champions League — now facing a Barcelona side that beat them 4-0 in the 2020-2021 final.
“She’s someone who really thrives in big moments,” said Hayes, in charge of Chelsea for nearly 11 years, of Berger. “She’s probably the best pen-saving goalkeeper I’ve worked with.”
“It was the most character-building performance, even if it was the ugliest... I’m relieved and exhausted,” she said.
Earlier, two-time Champions League winners VfL Wolfsburg secured a last-four place against Arsenal, Chelsea’s London rivals, with a 2-1 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Eight-time champions Lyon appeared to have done enough when Sara Dabritz’s goal deep into extra-time put the French side 2-0 up on the night and 2-1 ahead on aggregate, but in the third minute of stoppage-time at the end of extra-time, Lyon’s Vicki Becho clipped Lauren James inside the penalty area.
Contact appeared to be minimal, but following a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check and with Lyon players surrounding referee Ivana Martincic, a penalty was awarded.
Mjelde then made no mistake with the last kick of extra-time.
Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor was left with feelings of “frustration and injustice” at a penalty awarded after Martincic was instructed to consult the VAR.
“The referee made the right decision live [for the penalty],” she said. “Then she was obliged by VAR to go and look.”
Lyon, who won the competition in six of the past seven seasons, kicked off 1-0 behind after Guro Reiten’s curling shot had given Chelsea a first-leg lead in France last week.
The visitors brought Champions League record goalscorer Ada Hegerberg off the bench at the start of the second half, but they had to wait until the 77th minute to draw level when Vanessa Gilles nudged the ball in from a tight angle.
In a bruising encounter, neither side could manage another goal until the 110th minute when Dabritz shot into the far corner.
In Germany, a 1-1 draw at home was good enough for Wolfsburg to go through.
The hosts took an early lead through star striker Alexandra Popp, but that was soon canceled out by a Kadidiatou Diani equalizer.
Wolfsburg manager Tommy Stroot enjoyed his side’s “extremely special” victory, saying “we made it, we’re proud of it — and now Arsenal wait for us.”
“We are mega happy and mega proud,” three-time Champions League winner Popp told DAZN. “It was a hard fight, but we dug in.”
The hosts went ahead on the night when Popp curled in a shot from outside the penalty area following Wolfsburg’s first foray deep into PSG territory.
PSG also scored against the run of play when Diani headed in a looped cross from Sakina Karchaoui.
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