Ellie Carpenter stays perfect in Champions League as Mackenzie Arnold earns major nod

Ellie Carpenter's Lyon have remained perfect in the Women's Champions League, winning three-straight matches to cement themselves at the top of their group. The Matildas right back played the full match on Thursday morning, starring as the French outfit defeated Norwegian side Brann 3-1.

French star Kadidiatou Diani chipped in with a brace in what was a comfortable win for the eight-time Women's Champions League winners. Diani's double sees her join Sam Kerr as the competition's joint top=scorer with four goals. While Ada Herberg's first-half strike, took her tally to 61 goals, extending her lead as the competition's all-time leading scorer.

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Carpenter's performances since the Women's World Cup have seen her cement the right back spot at Lyon. The Matildas defender was subjected to some awful criticism following Australia's loss to England in the World Cup semi-finals in August, which was labelled 'disgusting' by Craig Foster. A costly mistake when she failed to clear the ball resulted in Lauren Hemp capitalising and taking the lead, with the mistake resulting in her being inundated with abuse online.

However the Matildas star previously said she pays little attention to what people say online and just focuses on playing the best football she can. "To be honest, I don't really read or look into that," she said. "For me, it doesn't really affect me at all. I do a job for my team and myself. It (social media abuse) is everywhere these days. And that just shows that the bigger you are or the bigger you get, the more criticism you get.

"I had a great support system around me during that time and just during the whole World Cup really. But it's just what it is. Like I said the bigger you are the more you get."

Five more Aussies will be in action across four matches on Friday morning (Aussie time), headlined by Kerr's Chelsea hosting Aivi Luik's Haecken. Sarah Hunter's Paris FC will also welcome Hayley Raso's Real Madrid and Clare Hunt's PSG will play host to Roma in the French capital.

Mackenzie Arnold takes huge step towards top gong

Meanwhile, the heroics of Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold have seen her advance to the final three in contention to win the world's top female goalkeeper at the FIFA Best Awards. Arnold has been named by the world governing body as one of the top three women's keepers in the world and is in the running to be crowned the best shot-stopper in January.

The Aussie's competition lies in England's Mary Earps and Spain's Catalina Coll. Arnold, who is a regular starter in the English Women's Super League with West Ham, is getting the recognition for her heroics - not just in helping the English battlers avoid relegation but also for her World Cup success.

No other keeper has registered more clean sheets than the Gold Coast keeper, whose World Cup heroics saw her become one of the stars of the tournament. Most notably the 29-year-old saved a record three penalties in the Matildas' quarter-final shootout win over France.

Following the quarter-final French coach Herve Renard heaped praise on the Aussie shot-stopper labelling her as "a Goliath of a goalie". Matildas coach Gustavsson also applauded her "unheard of" levels of mental strength.

with AAP

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