Arsenal WFC

Caitlin Foord scored four goals as Arsenal thrashed Rangers 6-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 Semi-Final on Wednesday evening.  Alessia Russo and Kim Little also found the net as the Gunners set up a final against Norwegian side Rosenborg on Saturday evening with the winner progressing to Round 2 of qualifying.

Arsenal made a good start in front of a sold-out crowd at Meadow Park and went close to opening scoring in 4th minute when Kathyrn Hill headed a cross wide of her own post.  The hosts continued to be the more dominant of the sides without threatening the Rangers goal.

The Gunners did take the lead in the 16th minute when Victoria Esson was unable to keep out Foord’s far post header following a cross from debutant Mariona Caldentey.

Codina Panedes made a cracking tackle to stop a rare attack from the Scottish Women’s Premier League leaders. 

Foord almost scored her second in the 29th minute but her close-range effort was saved by Esson before the ball was scrambled clear. 

Both of the Gunners full-backs, Katie McCabe and Emily Fox, were getting forward and combining well with Caldentey and Foord in attacking wide positions.

There were no more chances as Arsenal went in only one goal ahead at the break despite being on top during the first half.

Five minutes into the second half, after some nice build up down the right side from the hosts, Frida Maanum couldn’t connect cleanly with a cross and put an effort wide.  In the 54th minute, Little saw her shot from inside the area deflected wide off Olivia McLoughlin.

Foord scored her and Arsenal’s second goal in the 59th minute when she finished past Esson from 6-yards into the corner of the net.

A minute later, Russo made it 3-0 with a shot from inside the area that flew past the Rangers goalkeeper.

Around the midpoint of the second half, Russo’s looping header was easily claimed by Esson.

Foord completed her hat-trick in the 69th minute with a spectacular finish as she volleyed in McCabe’s cross at the far post.

Just after coming onto the pitch, Stina Blackstenius was denied by the visitors goalkeeper from close-range.  Esson then stopped McCabe’s shot from 25-yards in the 76th minute as the home side looked for more goals.

Blackstenius couldn’t make proper contact with a cross and headed wide in the 78th minute.

Caldentey could have capped her impressive debut with a goal in the 83rd minute but put an effort over into the North Bank.

In the 85th minute, Arsenal were awarded a penalty after McCabe was fouled in the area.  Little put the spot kick high into the net to score the Gunners fifth.

As the match entered stoppage time, Rosa Kafaji saw her shot from the edge of the area saved but Foord was on hand to score her fourth from the rebound.

The home side almost scored a seventh seconds before the referee blew the final whistle but summer signing Kafaji saw her 40-yard lob go over.

After that comfortable win for the Gunners, the final against Rosenborg takes place on Saturday at 19:30 BST at Meadow Park.

Line ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, Fox (Wienroither 79’), Williamson, Codina Panedas, McCabe, Little (c), Cooney-Cross (Walti 79’), Foord, Maanum (Kafaji 70’), Caldentey (Kuhl 87’), Russo (Blackstenius 70’)

Unused substitutes: Van Domselaar, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Lia, Godfrey, Agyemang, Reid

Goal – Foord 16’, 59’, 69’, 90’, Russo 60’, Little (pen) 86’

Rangers (3-4-1-2): Esson, Rafferty (Middag 67’), Hill, Docherty (c), Hay (McAuley 46’), Eddie, McLoughlin, Arnot, Howat (Lafaix 67’), Hardy, Wilkinson (Berry 85’)

Unused substitutes: Fife, Austin, Mcleary, Black

Referee – Rasa Grigone (Lithuania)

Attendance - 3,487