U.S. Abroad: Morgan's Lyon too much Lloyd's Man City

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 24, 2017

The first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals was billed as a battle between Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan, but neither American was a factor in defending champion Lyon's 3-1 win over Manchester City at City's Academy Stadium.

Man. City vs. Lyon: Highlights

A handball by Lloyd in the second minute opened the Lyon scoring for Japanese Saki Kumagi. Swede Kosovare Asilani equalized minutes later, but Lyon ahead went ahead in the 16th minute on a goal by Dzsenifer Marozsan.

Such is Lyon's depth that French star Eugenie Le Sommer didn't start, but she came on for Morgan before the hour mark and then added a third goal for Lyon.

"I think our best is yet to come," Lloyd told reporters afterwards. "We can't give them loads of respect. They are a good side, but we are as well."

In the other semifinal, Paris St. Germain also won on the road, beating Barcelona, 3-1. The second legs will be played Saturday.

If Lyon and PSG advance to the UCL women's final, they will meet three times in 19 days. They meet May 14 in a match that should decide the French women's league. They play five days later in the French Women's Cup final in Vannes and would meet June 1 in the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Cardiff.

April 22 in Manchester
Manchester City 1 Lyon 3. Goals: Asilani 10; Kumagi pen. 2, Marozsan 16, Le Sommer 68.
Manchester City -- Bardsley, Bronze, Stokes, Houghton, Asllani, Scott, Duggan (Stanway 83), Lawley (Christiansen 81), McManus, Walsh, Lloyd.
Lyon -- Boudhaddi, Renard, M'Bock, Buchanan, Kumagi, Majri, Houara-D'Hommeaux, Abily, Morgan (Le Sommer 56), Marozsan, Hegerberg.
Att.: 3,614.