SOCCER: Arsenal beat Lyonnes 2-1 in Women's Champions League semi-final first leg

LONDON – Defending champions Arsenal came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over OL Lyonnes, with an own goal and a late strike from Canadian forward Olivia Smith, in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semifinal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Lyon took the lead in the first half when Jule Brand cut inside and fired past Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, putting the visitors ahead.

Arsenal responded in the second half, leveling the match in the 59th minute after Lyon defender Ingrid Syrstad Engen inadvertently turned the ball into her own net.

The hosts then completed the comeback in the 83rd minute. Smith capitalized on a defensive mix-up between Engen and Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net to give Arsenal a narrow advantage heading into the second leg.

In the other semifinal on Saturday, Bayern Munich and Barcelona played to a 1-1 draw. Barcelona opened the scoring through Ewa Pajor early in the match, while Bayern equalized in the second half through Franziska Kett. Kett was later sent off after pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair.

-Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters