GENEVA (AP) — Record eight-time winner OL Lyonnes won 8-0 at overmatched Servette in the Women’s Champions League, setting the bar for title-holding Barcelona playing later Wednesday in the opening round.
Lyon's class was typified in a back-heeled assist by U.S. teenager Lily Yohannes for Marie-Antoinette Katoto to shoot and complete her hat trick in the 47th minute. And in Haiti star Melchie Dumornay's delicate slow chip shot from near the penalty spot to beat goalkeeper Jacintha Weimar in first-half stoppage time.
Lyon was the beaten finalist in Oslo in May by Barcelona, which was hosting Paris FC later Wednesday.
In Belgium, Roma substitute Marta Pandini missed a penalty deep into stoppage time of a 0-0 draw at OH Leuven. Pandini's spot-kick struck a post and bounced clear.
Chelsea was hosting Champions League debutant Austria Vienna in the other late game.
Servette was a dominant title winner in Switzerland last season, beat three opponents in qualifying rounds for this Champions League, and previously played in the competition five years ago.
Still, Lyon was barely troubled cruising to victory after an eighth-minute own goal by Laia Ballesté, under pressure from Dumornay, to turn a cross by Salma Paralluelo into her own net.
Katoto scored her first two goals with precisely placed shots in the 28th and 40th. A second Servette player, Magdalena Sobal, scored an own goal from an untidy scramble at a corner in the 68th.
The Women’s Champions League is in the second season of this 18-team format, with a single-standings league played over six rounds.
The top four in the standings on Dec. 16 advance directly to the quarterfinals that start in March. Teams placed fifth to 12th enter a playoffs round played over two legs in February.
The final is in late May at Poland’s national stadium in Warsaw.
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