Manchester City's Kosovare Asllani, center, celebrates scoring against Olympique Lyonnais during the women's Champions League semifinal, first leg soccer match at the Academy Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday April 22, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
April 22, 2017 - 12:45 PM
MANCHESTER, England - Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, Canadian internationals and best friends, have moved a step closer to a European Women's Champions League final showdown.
Buchanan's Lyon defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the first leg of their semifinal Saturday while Lawrence's Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at FC Barcelona.
Both Canadians played the full 90 minutes.
"Proud of this team but we aren't done yet. Now we will recover and refocus for the 2nd leg," tweeted Lawrence, who has won 52 caps for Canada.
"Great 3-1 win this afternoon. Now going back home. Time to recoup and regenerate for next week. Till we meet again Man City," tweeted Buchanan, who has 69 caps.
The second-leg semifinals are next Saturday.
Saki Kumagai (via a second-minute penalty), Dzsenifer Marozsan and Eugenie Le Sommer scored for defending champion Lyon. Kosovare Asllani replied for Manchester City
Marie-Laure Delie, Cristiane and Shirley Cruz Trana scored for PSG. Barbara Latorre pulled one back for the hosts in the 89th minute.
Last year, PSG edged Barcelona after a 1-0 aggregate victory in the quarter-finals. Lyon then went on to thrash PSG 7-0 and 1-0 in the semifinals en route to the title.
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With files from The Associated Press
News from © The Canadian Press, 2017