Report: Vålerenga Damer 1-3 Arsenal (inc goals)

Yesterday at 02:43 PM

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Reid, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe; Mariona, Cooney-Cross; Foord, Maanum, Russo; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Van Domselaar (GK), Williams (GK), Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mead, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kühl, Wienroither, Godfrey, Harbert

Alessia Russo scored twice and Frida Maanum kept up her fine scoring run, as Arsenal beat Vålerenga Damer 3-1 to set up a shoot out with Bayern Munich next week.

Renée Slegers made 5 changes to the starting lineup, with Manuela Zinsberger, Katie Reid, Stina Blackstenius, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina all starting. Daphne van Domselaar, Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, and Beth Mead all dropped to the bench.

First Half

Arsenal started on the front foot with lots of possession. In the 8th minute, Katie Reid took Arsenal’s first shot. Collecting the ball in the zone where we usually see Emily Fox in the final third, she had space and lined up an effort that went over the bar.

At the other end, though, Arsenal almost played themselves into trouble. Zinsberger’s pass was cut out, and Tvedten received the ball at the edge of the area from Stølen Godø. Her shot, though, went straight at Zinsberger.

On 12 minutes, Russo was played in behind by a Mariona through ball. Enblom advanced, and Russo looked to cut the ball across for Blackstenius, but the keeper smothered the the ball and the chance went.

Arsenal should’ve taken the lead on 24 minutes. Foord drove into the box and then crossed. Her cross was cut out, but came to Maanum, in a central position in the box. Her left footed shot, though, flew well over the bar.

A minute later, though, Arsenal would take the lead. Blackstenius won a header, and Maanum ran onto the ball, beat her marker, and then passed to Russo. Russo entered the box, worked the ball onto her right, and fired into the bottom corner. 0-1.

Arsenal continued to control the proceedings, with Cooney-Cross shooting well over, and Foord creating dangerous opportunities on the right, and the Gunners would double their lead on 37 minutes. Foord, a constant outlet, drove into the box and cut the ball back to the penalty area, where it was met by Maanum, whose deflected past Enblom. 0-2.

Vålerange almost cut the lead in half instantly. Stølen Godø drove down the right and crossed, and Tvedten met the cross and volleyed low but wide of Zinsberger’s far post.

Second Half

Foord had a good chance on 52 minutes. McCabe crossed from deep, and Foord looked to replicate the goal she scored earlier in the competition against Rangers, but got the timing of the volley wrong.

Arsenal made it 3-0 on 56 minutes. Foord carried the ball from the defensive third, and then played into Maanum. Maanum returned the ball to Foord, who crossed. Her cross was perfect, and Russo tucked it away. 0-3.

Two minutes later, it was almost four. Maanum played into Russo, whose shot was saved by Enblom. Blackstenius ran onto the rebound, but Enblom parried her shot behind for a corner.

Wubben-Moy then had a header save from a McCabe corner.

On 67 minutes, Arsenal made a triple substitution. Laura Wienroither replaced Katie Reid, Rosa Kafaji replaced Caitlin Foord, and Lina Hurtig replaced Russo.

Hurtig had a good chance to extend the lead, as she ran onto Maanum’s through pass, but Enblom came out to smother the ball.

Maanum slipped Hurtig in at the end of a flowing counter attack, and Hurtig’s cutback was perfectly placed for Kafaji, whose shot was blocked.

Hurtig could’ve won a penalty as she was dragged back by Hørte, but she carried on and crossed. Maanum met the cross but her half-volley went slightly wide under pressure from Enblom.

On 77 minutes, Katherine Kühl replaced Mariona.

Blackstenius hit the post on 82 minutes. Kafaji played a good long ball over the top for Maanum, who drove inside then passed wide to Blackstenius. She shot on her left and Enblom watched it hit her near post.

Stølen Godø forced Zinsberger into a save, with the goalkeeper saving at close range.

On 84 minutes, Arsenal made their change, with Freya Godrey replacing Kyra Cooney-Cross.

Vålerenga pulled a goal back on 85 minutes through Lindwall. Thomsen played a sharp pass into Enger, and got the return ball deep in the penalty box. Her cross took a slight deflection from Codina, and Lindwall finished sharply past Zinsberger. 1-3.

Lindwall then volleyed wide, and Thomsen shot just over the bar as Arsenal struggled to calm the game down.

There was 4 minutes of added time.

McCabe and Kafaji added some composure, with the latter winning a free kick after McCabe smartly dealt with a long ball, and Arsenal saw out the stoppage time.

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