Report: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger (GK), Williams (GK), Codina, Mead, Wälti, Kafaji, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Cooney-Cross, Reid

Arsenal have beaten Real Madrid 3-0, overturning the first leg defeat to beat Madrid 3-2 on aggregate. Arsenal have progressed to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League where the Gunners will face Lyon. Russo and Mariona leveled the tie in the first four minutes of the second half, before Russo’s second of the night sent Arsenal through.

Renée Slegers named the same team that beat Liverpool on Saturday. Kim Little was passed fit enough, partnering Mariona Caldentey in midfield.

Arsenal started on top, with Misa doing well to grab an excellent Kelly cross off the feet of Russo. On 9 minutes, Lakrar then got across to tackle the ball away from Russo after a dinked McCabe cross. From the corner, Maanum’s deep delivery found Mariona, unmarked, but she headed onto the top of the net.

On 15 minutes, Foord found Mariona. The cross was heavy, and Mariona’s touch was heavy, forcing her to the goal line. She crossed to the back post, but there wasn’t an Arsenal player.

On 25 minutes, Kelly played another superb cross, looking for Foord. She couldn’t reach the cross, and looked to be slightly dragged back.

On 33 minutes, Russo reached Fox’s throw and stood the cross up. Foord, running through the middle, leapt, but meeting the ball at the height of her jump couldn’t keep the header down.

A minute later, Mariona won the ball the back, and played a quick one-two with Maanum. She set Russo up, whose shot was blocked, but Kelly was the fastest and got onto the rebound, but Misa got a touch as Kelly tried to flick it beyond her.

Madrid, with their first real attack, nearly ended the tie. Bruun and Weir held the ball up and Athenea’s deflected cross came to Angledahl, whose shot was parried away by Van Domselaar.

Mariona found Maanum with a brilliant pass. Maanum turned, but her left footed effort ended up being more of a cross than a shot.

In the final action of the half, neat interplay set Mariona away on the left. Her effort across the box, though, didn’t find Russo, who has a half-step behind.

Arsenal struck immediately to start the second half. Foord slalomed away from three, and found Kelly on the right. Kelly crossed, and Russo volleyed past Misa. 1-0.

Three minutes later, Arsenal leveled the tie. Again, it was Kelly who was crucial. Williamson played long to Kelly, who crossed to the penalty box. Mariona ran on, and headed down, and the ball squirmed under Misa. 2-0.

Williamson played a backpass short that Bruun got onto, but she recovered, won the ball back, and was hauled to the ground by Bruun.

Arsenal took the lead in the tie in the 59th minute. After Kelly was fouled, McCabe’s free kick was floated into the box. A defensive header came off Catley and fell to Russo, who, while falling, slammed the ball into the net. 3-0.

Little’s header following a McCabe corner went just wide, as again, Arsenal had an umarked player at the backpost.

Arsenal were dominant, and won another corner. McCabe’s deep in-swinger came to the far post, and Russo, who collided with Catley, headed wide.

Russo, thought she had gotten her hat trick in the 71st minute. Mariona and Kelly combined, and played wide to Maanum. Her low cross went across the box, and Russo guided her shot into the far corner. After a VAR review, though, the goal was disallowed for offside, with Maanum found to be half a step offside.

On 73 minutes, Lia Wälti replaced Frida Maanum, and Beth Mead replaced Kelly.

Arsenal were still utterly dominant, and Russo headed wide from Mead’s out-swinging corner on 80 minutes.

Russo should’ve sealed the tie a minute later. Russo was played in one-on-one by a short backpass, and with Mead in support, Russo shot, but Misa saved with her leg.

Foord was fouled on the edge of the box, and from the resulting free kick, Mead shot just over.

Russo put the ball in the net again on the 89th minute, but she was flagged offside. She ran onto Mead’s pass, and her shot went through Misa. From the replay, she looked on, but with semi-automated offside technology, the decision stood.

In the 90th minute, Stina Blackstenius replaced Kim Little.

There was 6 minutes added on.

Russo was played in behind, but Foord’s run came too close to the goal, and Russo couldn’t find her.

In the 93rd minute, Madrid countered, and Caicedo got in behind Williamson. Williamson was able to stand Caicedo up, and her shot was straight at Van Domselaar, who parried. Redondo got to a rebound, and Van Domselaar pushed the ball away for a corner. From the corner, Van Domselaar got a vital touch to put the ball behind, and Russo cleared the follow up. As Arsenal cleared, Foord was played through, and Misa came out. Foord beat Misa, and had Blackstenius up with her, with an empty net. Foord, though, shot, but it didn’t have enough power.

McCabe played a ball over the top for Mariona, who advanced in on goal. As she looked to dink, Garcia got back and won the ball. Seconds later, Foord looked to wrap it up, but her shot was straight at Misa. Madrid had to get the ball forward, but they went short, and the referee blew for full time.

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