Three Australians are in line to play for Arsenal when they take on Corinthians in the final of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Matildas players Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal line-up that secured a dominant 6-0 semi-final victory over Moroccan side AS FAR at Brentford’s Gtech Stadium on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT).
Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and goals from Frida Maanum and Olivia Smith either side of a Mariona Caldentey penalty gave the Gunners a 4-0 lead by the break.
Substitute Alessia Russo added two more goals in the second half as England boss Sarina Wiegman watched on from the stand.
The new club competition concludes on Sunday at the Emirates, where the hosts will take on Brazilian side Corinthians for the $US2.3 million ($A3.28 million) first-place payout. The runners-up receive $US1 million ($A1.4 million).
Blackstenius’s opener was confirmed after goal-line technology showed AS FAR skipper Aziza Rabbah’s clearance was too late.
Maanum doubled Arsenal’s advantage four minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball and pivoting before sending a strike to the bottom-right corner of Khadija Er-Rmichi’s goal.
The Gunners were awarded a 21st-minute penalty after VAR confirmed a Zineb Redouani handball. Caldentey made no mistake with her spot-kick, sending the AS FAR keeper the wrong way.
Arsenal probably should have extended their lead sooner through wasted Smith and Blackstenius chances, before the former made one count.
Anneke Borbe was largely left untroubled in the Gunners goal, called to make a simple save from a low Siham Boukhami effort – which looked off-target – before Canada international Smith blasted home with four minutes remaining in the first half.
It took six minutes for Russo, introduced at the hour, to find the back of the net, a low strike past the far post, before bagging her brace when she found the opposite corner 10 minutes later.
Earlier, Gabi Zanotti struck a late winner to secure Corinthians a 1-0 victory over National Women’s Soccer League outfit Gotham FC.
Zanotti stopped a cross on her chest, then shot the dropping ball with her left boot to the right of Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who got her hands to it but couldn’t stop it from slipping through in the 82nd minute.
The six-team Champions Cup was created as an event for club teams. It builds on a growing number of regional club competitions, led by the success of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Two continental champions were eliminated in earlier rounds: Auckland United from Oceania, and Wuhan Chegu Jiangda from Asia.
– with AP
https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/gunners-bang-on-target-to-fire-into-champions-cup-final-c-21458677
