91Èȱ¬

Manchester City were knocked out of the Women's Champions League at the semi-final stage by four-time winners Lyon.

A brilliant volley from former City player Lucy Bronze opened the scoring for the French side after 17 minutes at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

The hosts dominated proceedings and almost doubled their lead when Amandine Henry hit the post from range.

City failed to threaten in the second half as they lost a last-four tie to Lyon for the second consecutive season.

Lyon are aiming for a third consecutive Women's Champions League triumph and were on top from the start, with captain Wendie Renard placing a header narrowly wide before England international Bronze showed great technique to convert Amel Majri's left-wing cross.

The French side, who are on course for a 12th consecutive domestic title, continued to pile on the pressure after the break as Camille Abily sent a diving header wide and Ada Hegerberg turned an effort over.

The two sides had drawn the first leg 0-0 and City struggled to create chances in the return fixture, with their first shot on target coming in the 88th minute when Claire Emslie cut inside from the left and shot straight at Sarah Bouhaddi.

No English side has reached the final since Arsenal's triumph in 2007, with Chelsea Ladies also exiting the competition on Sunday after being beaten 2-0 at Wolfsburg and losing 5-1 on aggregate.

After being knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea earlier in April, City's sole chance of winning silverware this season is in Women's Super League One.

Nick Cushing's side trail the west London club by three points but have a game in hand.

Lyon: Bouhaddi, Renard, Kumagai, Majri, Le Sommer, Marozsán, Hegerberg, Bronze, Abily (Hamraoui 68), Henry, M'Bock Bathy.

Substitutes: Peyraud-Magnin, Bacha, Hamraoui, Petit, van de Sanden, Cascarino, Buchanan.

Manchester City Women: Bardsley, McManus, Houghton, Beattie, Stokes, Scott, Walsh, Christiansen (Emslie 81), Parris, Stanway, Lawley (Nadim 66).

Substitutes: Roebuck, Jans, Middag, Toone, Emslie, Nadim, Ross.