07/05 - 19:30
07/05 - 20:00
07/05 - 20:00
07/05 - 19:30
07/05 - 20:00
07/05 - 20:00
Arsenal confirmed their spot at the top of Group C in the Champions League after putting NINE goals past FC Zurich.
The Gunners were dealt a severe blow this week when it was announced the star forward Vivienne Miedema suffered an ACL injury that ended her season just a few weeks after a similar injury to Beth Mead.
However, Arsenal were still far too strong for Zurich in attack and opened the scoring after just 18 minutes when Frida Maanum’s floated free-kick from just outside the area was beyond the stretching arms of Lourdes Grzondziel.
Five minutes later Stina Blackstenius sent in a low ball that Caitlin Foord converted well from close range.
The game was effectively sewed up with just over 30 minutes gone. Maanum again the goalscorer after a lightning-fast counterattack from Jonas Eidevall’s team.
It was Blackstenius’ turn to get on the scoresheet just before half-time when she tapped the ball into an empty net after another fast break.
Maanum completed her hat-trick after the break when Zurich were again guilty of giving the ball away. This time the Norwegian midfielder fired a rocket into the net from distance.
Blackstenius made it 6-0 in the 54th minute with another long-range effort as the Arsenal players began to compete for who could score the best goal of the game.
The Swiss side did pull one back when Leah Williamson tripped while chasing Seraina Piubel and inadvertently brought down the substitute. Fabienne Humm gave Manuela Zinsberger no chance when she fired her penalty into the top corner to make it 6-1.
Foord made it 7-1 when a disastrous back pass under pressure set up the Arsenal player perfectly to score from point-blank range.
Arsenal then had a penalty of their own moments later for a handball that allowed substitute Kim Little to get on the scoresheet after her return from injury.
Mana Iwabuchi rounded up the scoring to make it 9-1 seven minutes from time to cap a dominant performance.
Meanwhile, in the other group game Lyon and Juventus played out a goalless draw meaning that Lyon went through to the next round in second place at Juve’s expense.
🔥 NINE GOALS
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) December 21, 2022
🥇 TOP OF GROUP C
✅ 2022 COMPLETE pic.twitter.com/ACNpfcuOUN
1-9 | ||
Fabienne Humm 64' (pen.) | Frida Maanum 18' 32' 51' Caitlin Foord 23' 68' Stina Blackstenius 45' 54' Kim Little 71' (pen.) Mana Iwabuchi 83' |
