Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox (Wienroither 70′), Wubben-Moy (Williamson 78′), Codina, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mead (Foord 70′), Kafaji (Maanum HT), Mariona; Russo (Blackstenius 70′)
Substitutes: Van Domselaar (GK), Williams (GK), Wälti, Kühl, Godfrey, Harbert, Reid
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Arsenal are a goal down after the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. An error from Katie McCabe led to Tabitha Tindell’s 77th minute winner.
Jonas Eidevall made three changes to the Arsenal team that defeated Rosenborg, with Lotte Wubben-Moy replacing Leah Williamson in the lineup, Rosa Kafaji making her start for Arsenal in the #10 role, and Beth Mead coming into the starting lineup following a groin complaint.
First Half
Both managers had promised a high level of intensity and pressing, with neither side able to say they were fully in control in the first ten minutes. In the tenth minute, Arsenal worked a short corner, and Russo was found in the center, but from a low angle her header floated into Falk’s arms.
Russo would then have another chance, dragging her shot wide from the edge of the area. Then, Russo would set up Mariona. After a turnover, the ball went into Russo, she laid the ball off for Mariona, who shot wide from the top of the box.
Kafaji then hit the bar after the ball fell to her in the penalty area. From the inside left, her curling shot hit the bar, and went out of play.
Arsenal won the ball back in a promising area, and Russo looked in a good position to shoot. But she took too long and had to pass to Mead. Mead had to pass backwards to Little, and it looked like the move was over. Arsenal, though, regained momentum, and only a last ditch clearance prevented a tap-in for Kafaji.
Second Half
Arsenal made a half time substitution, with Frida Maanum replacing Rosa Kafaji.
Maanum looked to slip Mariona in, but a Häcken defender got there, but played the pass beyond the advancing Falk, who had to reach back and grab the ball, giving Arsenal an indirect free kick in the penalty box. Mead’s shot was blocked, and then cleared off the line.
Arsenal should’ve taken the lead on 51 minutes. After good build up play, Mariona drove past her defender and put in a left footed cross. Mead headed straight at Falk, and from the rebound, Russo’s shot was blocked.
Häcken then ought to have taken the lead. Larisey was played through on the break, rounded Zinsberger, and with the goal empty, hit the side netting.
On 70 minutes, Eidevall made a triple substitution. Foord replaced Mead, Blackstenius replaced Russo, and Wienroither replaced Fox.
Häcken took the lead on 77 minutes. A siwtch of play was played over the top, McCabe, the last player back, missed the ball, and Tabitha Tindell ran through and chipped Zinsberger. 0-1.
After the goal, Williamson replaced Wubben-Moy.
Foord was played into a good position on the break but her final ball evaded everyone. Maanum would do the same from a good position in the penalty box, with her cross from the left going out of play for a throw in.
A good interception from Codina stopped another Häcken break, as the match entered 5 minutes of stoppage time.
Cooney-Cross slipped Maanum in, but her left footed shot was saved by Falk’s outreached hand, and went behind for a corner. From the corner, McCabe lost possession.
In the final minute, Mariona danced into the box and from the byline crossed. Maanum met the cross but hit the bar. The tie, then, is in the balance, with Arsenal needing a big performance next week at Meadow Park to go through.
Sorry, not anywhere near good enough. No firepower, no creativity and too much passing it backwards and sideways.
Same old, same old. New players, same story. How much longer will Eidevall talk the talk with nothing to back it up? Boring, gutless football.
Credit to Hacken, they executed their gameplan to perfection. 11 players behind the ball at times, but broke quickly and took their one chance. However teams are only empowered in this approach because they know it works – it’s not just a freak occurrence but proven tactic against us. At 70 mins I thought I’d take nil-nil in the away leg on a plastic without any injuries, we’ve always got the home leg. Now we’ve made things very difficult for us, because they’re only going to redouble their tactics. Appreciate we hit the post and bar, saw a couple of… Read more »
This 4-1-4-1 formation that Jonas is using is not working. He used it in the game against Rosenborg and it was 1-0. In the game against Rangers, the formation was 4-3-3 and we won 6-0. If he uses this same formation again, it will get really complicated. In the next game, they will close up, but they do not know the cauldron that is Meadpark. 1-0 does not guarantee anything. Arsenal were much superior, but their decision-making was very poor. I hope Frida returns as a starter in the next game. Wolfsburg and City have already secured their passports, and… Read more »
Immediate reaction is inevitably negative: hopeless set pieces, too much piddling about in their penalty error, lack of a ruthless finisher, Katie McCabe living off reputation rather than actual performances…
“area” not “error” – maybe “error” is appropriate!
Freudian slip…both correct
Katie’s shots from outside the area towards the goal, she is hardly using anymore, she prefers to cross into the area
In the men’s game against Spuddenham on Sunday, in an almost identical situation, TImber made no attempt to intercept the through ball, he just raced back to make sure that he was between the opponent and the goal when the shot came. And that’s the difference between winning and losing.
I am wondering if time is up for Katie. She looks a yard slower, doesn’t seem to read the game so well, her set piece delivery has deteriorated. Perhaps she has a problem which is not public knowledge but had to play because Steph is out?
Katie McCabe has relied too heavily on her fowling techniques in the past … and now having to clean her act up, she falls short
I agree with that 100%
Not great. If they go out again in this round, the team needs to do some hard thinking about whether Jonas is the right manager to get them where they want to be.
It’s UCL or WSL for Jonas, otherwise he’s out I reckon
Meanwhile Viv scored citeh’s first goal
But she wasn’t good enough for Eidevall. I’m pleased for her and hope she wins loads of trophies.
Benefit of the doubt it was a 3M pitch and the home side decided to park the bus but it is a concern that so much huff and puff led to the same result where we lose 1-0 to their only real chance of the game. On the same night City put 5 past Paris FC with Bunny Shaw not even in the stadium! Something is not right, these players are better than this.
or Overrated??
Why didn’t we start Foord? Game was crying out for her. The Foord and Fox link up too looked much better than whatever was going on last night. There was no chemistry across the attack with her sitting out and also Maanum. Was Jonas being tactical with rest?
maybe jonas should have told them that this wasn’t a preparation game against west ham?