OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS claimed their third successive Women’s Champions League final on Thursday night courtesy of a spectacular extra-time period providing all five goals of the game.

They vanquished two-times champions VfL Wolfsburg for the second time in three seasons in front of a sold-out Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium.

After a goalless 90 minutes of normal time, the game burst into life when star Wolfsburg striker Pernille Harder got the opener through a heavily deflected shot in the third minute of extra time.

But within minutes their advantage on the score-sheet was undermined by the sending off of midfielder Alexandra Popp. And just seven minutes later they found themselves 3-1 down to goals from player of the match Amandine Henry, Eugenie Le Sommer and Ada Hegerberg. Camille Abily side-footed home a fourth goal in the second period of extra time to seal Lyon’s fifth title in eight years.

Wolfsburg captain Nilla Fischer said the sending off had turned the game. “We had the lead, then a red card, I just think Lyon are too good to beat them with one player less.” 

Wolfsburg picked up silverware in the German league and cup before missing out on the treble. 

Fischer said: “I think we had a really good season so we went into the game with a lot of self-confidence. In the end we have to be proud because we won two titles, we really gave Lyon a tough game today.”

Lyon’s Lucy Bronze, who became the first English woman to win the Champions League, felt the introduction of Shanice van de Sanden following Wolfsburg’s goal was the real turning point.

“Shanice was the game-changer in the end, she’s got three out of four of the assists. She came on and made a difference,” said Bronze. “The pace that she’s got, getting in behind when both teams were tiring and she’s so energetic and works so hard. She deserves everything because she’s worked so hard this year.”

Bronze was not the only player making history: Hegerberg’s goal was her 15th of the European season, the first woman to achieve that mark, only Cristiano Ronaldo has ever scored more in one campaign.

Lyon captain Wendie Renard lifted the trophy for the third year in a row, a feat only the great Franz Beckenbauer has achieved in the history of the game.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas congratulated his coach Reynold Pedros on his substitutions.

“There is in the club a spirit to fight,” he said.

“When we were losing 1-0, the coach changed the team and we played with five offensive players. It changed the match.”

On Lyon’s five titles, he said: “Each final is more difficult than the last. The players have a very special personality. It is wonderful for all the club, the academy because they look at the performance of the women.”