Chelsea boss Emma Hayes on 'exhaustion and relief' as epic win seals Champions League semi-final berth
What a night.
Yet for Chelsea manager Emma Hayes there was just one overriding emotion following their dramatic Women's Champions League victory over Lyon - exhaustion.
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals in the most thrilling way, coming out on top in a penalty shootout after Maren Mjelde also scored from the spot in the eighth minute of added time in extra time.
"I'm just relieved it's over and we're through that," said Hayes. "It was drama, full of drama. I am exhausted. Relieved and exhausted."
Those watching at Stamford Bridge were treated to a spectacular showdown between two of Europe's heavyweights and Chelsea ultimately accomplished a giant-killing.
Lyon, last year's champions and the record eight-time winners of the competition, came to London needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit and almost did when they led 2-1 on aggregate with seconds remaining.
But Mjelde showed composure to keep her side in it and then goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made two stunning saves in a shootout that Hayes could not stand to watch.
"We've never won a penalty shootout as a team so can you imagine what was going on in my mind," she said of the extra-time period.
"I had to be conscious that the penalty takers were [still] on the pitch as I didn't see a goal in us to be honest.
"When I saw Lyon's substitutes coming off the bench - one after another, all world-class talents - I felt we dealt with it well. It was the most character-building performance, even if it was the ugliest."
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