Arsenal overturned a one-goal deficit to guide a spot within the Champions League semi-finals for the primary time since 2013 after targets from Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius impressed a sensational 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on the Emirates Stadium.
The Frauen-Bundesliga leaders, on a 14-game profitable streak, held a 1-0 first-leg lead over the Gunners due to a header from Lea Schuller, however the resurgent Londoners delivered a much more ruthless and scientific show at house, scoring twice within the first 26 minutes.
Maanum opened the scoring by firing a rocket into the highest left nook of Maria-Luisa Grohs’ (20) web, spurred on by an instinctive flick from Leah Williamson, earlier than a decided Katie McCabe beat her defender and despatched a crosses to Blackstenius to complete. with an imposing header (26).
The sport was way more even after the break, with Arsenal additionally having to take care of the lack of captain Kim Little to damage early on, however their backline remained stiff and defiant, retaining Bayern at bay, earlier than Caitlin Foord missed an excellent alternative to wrap the tie with 20 minutes to go.
“If we succeed, we are able to beat any group,” Jonas Eidevall mentioned triumphantly after the match, whereas revealing that he had acquired a congratulatory message from sporting director Edu, who was current alongside Mikel Arteta on the Emirates.
The Eidevall aspect, who fended off a number of different golden probabilities to make the scoreline extra comfy, will now face both PSG or Wolfsburg for a spot within the Champions League ultimate on June 3.
How the skilful Gunners booked a spot within the semi-finals
The margin of victory would have been way more comfy and not using a high quality goalkeeping show from Grohs and a messy end from Arsenal’s ahead line.
Because of Little’s early departure, assistant captain Williamson – who’s celebrating her twenty sixth birthday – has been pushed additional ahead, with the change in place taking part in an element within the house aspect’s well-worked opener.
The defender and midfielder guided a deft shot into Maanum’s path from the sting of the realm, and she or he netted an excellent strike for her fifth Champions League aim of a formidable marketing campaign.
Bayern, so resilient in home competitors, have let simply 4 league targets slip away this season however had been powerless to forestall the Gunners from doubling their benefit earlier than the half-hour mark when McCabe blasted his method to the sideline and Blackstenius nodded shut.
Goalkeeper Grohs saved the guests alive within the second half, saving a close-range header from Blackstenius earlier than Lotte Wubben-Moy’s misplaced cross was despatched off the crossbar. Foord then inflated an exquisite likelihood over the crossbar after being rolled neatly by Maanum 12 yards from aim.
McCabe limped off late to current Eidevall with one other damage downside, however the Swede can be delighted his Continental Cup winners have at the very least two extra video games so as to add to their busy schedule as they chase a historic first European ultimate since 2007.
“I do not know [on the injury front]”mentioned the Arsenal boss sky sports activities. “We have to use the instances for tonight and tomorrow to be able to have a transparent understanding. When we have now extra info, we’ll replace.”
Eidevall: Potential to beat any group
Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall:
“It is a long-term aim to achieve the semi-finals of the Champions League. I am very glad that we will the semi-finals. It is an unimaginable achievement that we’re so pleased with – I mentioned to gamers earlier than the sport, we have now the potential to beat any group after we obtain all issues good.
“That does not imply it is easy or that we are able to do it each time. However we have now that potential now. So if we have now it, it would not be superb and exquisite if we may carry that to a yet one more step on this competitors, to see how robust our wings are and the way excessive we are able to fly collectively.
“We managed to do this at this time, it is a proud second for the entire membership. If we do properly, we are able to beat any group. It additionally means that there’s a lot of labor within the performances to be constant I take nothing We’ve got to face each state of affairs and do our greatest.
He added: “I obtained a very nice message from Edu after the sport. The help from the entire membership is fantastic. There’s a whole lot of speak about at all times appearing elegant – you actually get the which means of that if you’re on the sport. Contained in the It is rooted and spreading, the communication and conviction on their half is unimaginable.
Straus: ‘Unhappy’ to depart – Arsenal finest group
Bayern Munich head coach Alexander Straus:
“Congratulations to Arsenal, they had been actually good in each legs. At the moment they had been the higher group and that is okay. At the moment we did one thing we do not usually do. We gave away the ball too simply.
“The primary aim, we had warning indicators. It is disappointing that we could not adapt to the state of affairs. They went excessive with their press. We may have pushed again and gone extra on to discover house. We did not make it in the fitting order.
“We have received 14 in a row. We lose a little bit of confidence after the aim and that does not must occur. We’ve got to maintain being courageous, however we have stopped that. We had been a bit fragile, to be trustworthy .
“At the moment is a tricky day for us, however we do not have time to linger. Now we’re out. It is unhappy.”
Barca cruise previous Rome
Barcelona reached the final 4 of the Champions League for the fifth consecutive 12 months by beating Roma 5-1 within the second leg of their quarter-final.
They advance 6-1 on mixture and can face defending champions Lyon or Chelsea within the April semi-finals.
Fridolina Rolfo scored twice within the first half earlier than Mapi Len added one other to make it 3-0 on the break. Asisat Oshoala and Patri Guijarro scored two extra shortly after the break, whereas Annamaria Serturini netted a comfort for Roma.
And after?
Arsenal have just one match earlier than the worldwide break in April, with the host Eidevall group Manchester Metropolis Sunday in an enormous WSL showdown because the title race races to its conclusion – kick off at 12.30pm.
from Bayern Munich the subsequent outing will even be on Sunday, with the Frauen-Bundesliga leaders shifting to ninth place Meppen – kick off 12h.
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