Arsenal stun Bayern to book European semi-final spot

Arsenal stun Bayern to book European semi-final spot
_129215758_gettyimages-1477886264.jpgArsenal remain the only English side to win the Women's Champions League, doing so in 2007

Arsenal put in a stunning display at Emirates Stadium to come from behind in their Women's Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.

Needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to make the semi-finals for the first time in a decade, Arsenal were intense from the off and blew Bayern away in a scintillating first-half performance.

Frida Maanum scored one of the goals of the season when she struck the ball beautifully into the top corner after being teed up by a flick from Leah Williamson to open proceedings.

Bayern were shaken by Arsenal's relentless pressing and with a record crowd for a women's European match in England in attendance, they struggled to deal with an onslaught of pressure.

Stina Blackstenius capitalised to make it 2-0 when she headed in from close range and defender Lotte Wubben-Moy almost added a third but her cross clipped the crossbar.

Bayern goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs pulled off numerous saves in an inspired performance to keep the scoreline down at half-time, and the visitors did pose a greater threat in the second half.

German midfielder Lina Magull came closest when she had a shot blocked from close range before her header bounced dangerously wide off Arsenal defender Rafaelle Souza.

But Arsenal had done the damage in the first half to record a memorable victory in European competition and they remain in line to win three trophies this season.

Arsenal put down statement as they chase more silverware

Having already won the League Cup this season while remaining in touching distance of the Women's Super League title, Arsenal showed at the Emirates why they are a team competing on several fronts.

Jonas Eidevall's side looked up for the challenge from the first minute and were rewarded for their bravery on the ball and creativity with Maanum's stunning opener.

The 21,307 in attendance - beating the previous record of 19,278 for a women's European match in England set in the 2013 final at Stamford Bridge - were treated to some of Arsenal's best football so far this season.

Dealt an early blow when captain Kim Little was fouled and forced off injured, Arsenal responded with aggression as Williamson thrived in midfield, having moved from centre-back to cover Little's absence.

Maanum and Blackstenius stepped up to deliver much-needed goals as Arsenal's star forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema watched in the stands with anterior cruciate knee injuries.

Australian forward Caitlin Foord, who Eidevall said earlier this week had been "an important player for Arsenal" this season, caused problems down the left, while Maanum's runs from the centre led to anxiety in Bayern's defence.

Roared on by an entertained crowd, Arsenal were forced to dig deep to hold strong as Bayern pushed for a goal late on, but the hosts did not falter.

They stunned holders Lyon in the group stages earlier in the competition and now have a place in the semi-finals with momentum on their side.

Arsenal have already ended a four-year wait to lift a trophy this season but they look hungry for more - and this was a statement performance in London.

Line-ups

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Zinsberger

16Maritz6Williamson2Carvalho Souza15McCabe

10Little13Wälti

21Pelova12Maanum19Foord

25Blackstenius

1Zinsberger16MaritzBooked at 79mins6Williamson2Carvalho SouzaBooked at 38mins15McCabeSubstituted forHurtigat 89'minutes10LittleSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 12'minutesBooked at 15mins13Wälti21PelovaSubstituted forWienroitherat 77'minutes12Maanum19Foord25BlacksteniusSubstituted forBeattieat 89'minutes

Substitutes

3Wubben-Moy5Beattie14D'Angelo17Hurtig18Marckese22Kühl26Wienroither29Goldie59Agyemang62Reid

FC Bayern München Ladies

Formation 4-4-2

22Grohs

8Rall4Viggósdóttir3Kumagai6Hansen

20Kett25Zadrazil31Stanway17Bühl

16Magull11Schüller

22Grohs8RallSubstituted forLaurentat 80'minutes4Viggósdóttir3Kumagai6Hansen20KettBooked at 44minsSubstituted forDamnjanovicat 64'minutesBooked at 79mins25ZadrazilSubstituted forLohmannat 80'minutes31StanwayBooked at 90mins17Bühl16MagullSubstituted forRudelicat 88'minutes11SchüllerSubstituted forVilhjálmsdóttirat 88'minutes

Substitutes

1Benkarth9Damnjanovic12Lohmann14Bragstad23Vilhjálmsdóttir27Laurent35Landenberger36Gloning37Rudelic44RúnarsdóttirReferee:Marta Huerta de AzaAttendance:21,307

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal Women 2, FC Bayern München Ladies 0.

Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 2, FC Bayern München Ladies 0.

Georgia Stanway (FC Bayern München Ladies) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Georgia Stanway (FC Bayern München Ladies).

Lia Wälti (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Glódís Viggósdóttir (FC Bayern München Ladies) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Georgia Stanway with a cross following a corner.

Corner, FC Bayern München Ladies. Conceded by Laura Wienroither.

Sydney Lohmann (FC Bayern München Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Leah Williamson (Arsenal Women).

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Tuva Hansen.

Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Emelyne Laurent.

Attempt saved. Sydney Lohmann (FC Bayern München Ladies) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jovana Damnjanovic with a headed pass.

Substitution, Arsenal Women. Jen Beattie replaces Stina Blackstenius.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution, Arsenal Women. Lina Hurtig replaces Katie McCabe because of an injury.

Substitution, FC Bayern München Ladies. Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir replaces Lea Schüller.

Substitution, FC Bayern München Ladies. Ivana Rudelic replaces Lina Magull.

Delay in match because of an injury Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women).

Attempt saved. Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Offside, Arsenal Women. Stina Blackstenius tries a through ball, but Caitlin Foord is caught offside.

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