Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich (2-1 agg): Womens Champions League quarter-final as it happened | W
29 Mar 202322.11 BSTThank you so much for joining me for this thrilling end to Arsenal’s quarter-final against Bayern Munich! Ahead of kick-off Arsenal had a slight hill to climb and they took the challenge head on. They were 2-0 up before half-time and managed to maintain the lead in a clinical defensive second 45. The Gunners are through to their first Women’s Champions League semi-final in 10 years! To re-live all the action have a read of Suzy Wrack’s report from the Emirates:
I love a fun fact so here’s another one for you:
Bayern Munich have been eliminated from more #UWCL knockout ties after winning the first leg than any other team (3 times) 😱 pic.twitter.com/7ZfyBgAlmO
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 29, 2023Arsenal will be thoroughly pleased with the performance and the result but there were two incidents that they will not be happy with. Captain Kim Little and Katie McCabe both came off with injuries which would add to their growing list of injured key players. Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead are already both out, Jonas Eidevall will be hoping the knocks aren’t serious.
The performance this evening from Arsenal was akin to that of their 5-1 demolition of Lyon. While they weren’t as clinical as they were against the defending champions, their mentality was spot on.
29 Mar 202321.59 BSTArsenal will face either Paris Saint-Germain of Wolfsburg in the semi-final. The quarter-final between PSG and Wolfsburg will be finished in a second tie tomorrow. Wolfsburg won the first tie 1-0.
29 Mar 202321.58 BSTWell what a performance. Arsenal were 1-0 behind after the first leg but they were clinical and deadly in the first 45. A superb strike from Maanum and a header from Blackstenius saw them go ahead and Bayern could not find a way back into it in the second half. Arsenal could and should have more goals but their defensive efforts were incredible and they did not fade away despite growing pressure. Huge result.
Full-time: Arsenal (0) 2-0 (1) Bayern Munich
Arsenal have done it! There first semi-final in 10 years!
Updated at 22.06 BST29 Mar 202321.56 BST90 + 7 min: Jeez, a great ball from Buhl almost fins Laurent but it is blocked. Eidevall has been shown a yellow card, unclear as to what for but he is not being quiet on the sidelines.
29 Mar 202321.55 BST90 + 6 min: Stanway’s long range pass goes straight out of play, the pressure here starting to show. Emirates fans are chanting Arsenal now. Miedema looking nervous from the sidelines!
29 Mar 202321.54 BST90 + 5 min: Arsenal are defending well and holding onto this lead. The ball comes in but Zinsberger punches away. How are any Arsenal fans coping right now? I’m a neutral and I’m a bag of nerves!
29 Mar 202321.53 BST90 + 4 min: Wienroither concedes a corner and all the players are up, including Grohs! Buhl whacks it in and it pinballs around. Arsenal initially clears but Stanway gets it back in, Viggosdottir’s resulting header goes wide.
90 + 3 min: The throw leads to another corner, expertly managed here from Arsenal so far. They take the corner short again but this time it’s them who sees it out. Bayern look to build something but Williamson cuts out the ball! Lohmann is fouled though and Bayern have it, I’m so nervous!
29 Mar 202321.50 BST90 + 2 min: Arsenal have a corner and they take it short, clear they want to run down the clock here. Walti does well to play in the corner with Laurent having the last touch for a throw.
29 Mar 202321.49 BST90 + 1 min: There will be seven minutes added! That is plenty of time for either side to score.
29 Mar 202321.48 BST90 min: Jeez, I thought Bayern had scored then! Lohmann gets a powerful shot away but Zinsberger collects.
29 Mar 202321.48 BST89 min: There are changes for Bayern as Magull and Schuller are off for Rudelic and Runarsdottir. And, apologies, McCabe is hobbling off here. I thought she was remaining on but she can’t even walk on her foot now, Beattie is on. Blackstenius is also off for Hurtig.
87 min: 21,307 are in attendance at the Emirates, that is an Arsenal record for a Women’s Champions League record for the club. Laurent and McCabe are okay to continue.
29 Mar 202321.45 BST86 min: Bayern are still being patient on the ball, running it back to Grohs despite the clock ticking down. They are on the pace now though but Wienroither cuts it out in the box! There are two players down with McCabe and Laurent on the floor with injury.
29 Mar 202321.44 BST85 min: Arsenal get it back and they come again, Blackstenius has the ball under her feet and she can’t get a shot away. Foord has it once more and gets a shot away but Grohs collects.
29 Mar 202321.42 BST84 min: Arsenal get another opportunity with Hansen wrestling Foord off the ball. The crowd in the Emirates have come to life. One more goal and this tie could be done. Maritz is offside and Bayern have the ball.
29 Mar 202321.41 BST83 min: Buhl takes it but it is headed away. Stanway tries to get it back in but Foord does well to close her out for a goal kick. Blackstenius is limping slightly after that defensive effort but she is staying on.
82 min: Maanum puts in a great ball to McCabe who loses it in the box, Buhl coming through for her side. Possession exchanges hands but it is the visitors on the prowl, Wubben-Moy blocks a cross and they have a corner!
29 Mar 202321.39 BST80 min: 10 minutes left in this one! Can Arsenal hang on for their first semi-final in ten years? They are looking to seal it with a third goal and they are in possession. Maritz puts in a good ball to Blacktenius but she goes down. Damnjanovic looks to take the ball quickly but Walti frustrates her and both players get a yellow card. Bayern make changes with Laurent and Lohmann on.
29 Mar 202321.36 BST78 min: Stanway has a shot and it’s deflected which makes the save harder for Zinsberger but the keeper collects. Arsenal make a change with Pelova off for Wienroither.
29 Mar 202321.35 BST76 min: Magull lost the ball in the midfield and Arsenal had a good chance to counter but Blackstenius takes slightly too long on the ball to miss the chance to strike. Bayern now in possession and are hunting for their equaliser (on aggregate).
29 Mar 202321.33 BST75 min: There have been three or four chances Arsenal should have scored this evening, they need to hold on or they will be kicking themselves. Hansen tries to unleash Bayern’s attack but her pass has too much on it.
29 Mar 202321.32 BST73 min: Magull fouls Walti and Arsenal take the possession quickly. They work it up and Maanum gets a slick pass to Foord and I cannot believe she has missed that! She has a one-on-one with Grohs who does just enough to see the ball sail over the bar.
72 min: Commentators are supposing Zinsberger may be delaying getting back to her feet to take the sting out of Bayern’s momentum, the keeper is now back up and we are playing again.
29 Mar 202321.28 BST70 min: Souza does really well to cut out a ball with Schuller, if she continues there it would have been a one-on-one with Zinsberger. The Arsenal goalkeeper is now down with injury, unsure what happened to her and we have a break in play.
69 min: Bayern were building nicely but a long ball from Rall has too much on it and it’s out of play.
29 Mar 202321.25 BST67 min: Arsenal aren’t fading here despite the growing Bayern pressure, they have the ball and are slowly working it up the pitch. But a loose pass sees the visitors come away with it. How are you feeling Arsenal fans? On the edge of your seat?
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