The first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter finals featured a number of strong performances from U.S. players, including Catarina Macario and Lindsey Horan.
Horan had an assist in the game-winning goal for Lyon, securing the team’s 2-1 comeback over Benfica.
In her first Champions League game since the 2022 final, in which she tore her ACL while playing for Lyon, Macario notched an assist as a late-game sub in Chelsea’s 3-1 over Ajax. She’s now had three goal contributions in four appearances in her return to the field.
All three of her contributions have come within 10 minutes of being subbed onto the field.
“She’s gifted,” Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said after the match. But the team is still working her back to full minutes.
“Cat, we’re building, building, building,” Hayes added. “With the way we build players, it’s not just 20 minutes, 30, 45, 60, 90,” she said. “Sometimes it’s 20 at a certain level, and 20 again, but it’s a higher intensity. And Arsenal, for me, even 20 minutes was a much higher intensity. I think tonight was of equal level purely because [it’s] the Champions League and the energy of the crowd, but you saw the quality of the…
