Arsenal secured a late 1-0 win with a stoppage-time penalty against HB Koge
Arsenal and Manchester City both had thrilling starts to their Women's Champions League campaigns.
Arsenal kicked off their Women's Champions League campaign with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Danish side HB Koge at Meadow Park, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from Mariona Caldentey. Manager Renee Slegers made significant changes to her starting line-up, bringing in eight new players from the previous Women's Super League match against Manchester United. Despite a disallowed goal from Chloe Kelly in the first half, Arsenal maintained pressure throughout the game.
The Gunners struggled to convert their chances until Selina Cerci was fouled in the box, allowing Caldentey to secure the win with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner. Earlier, a VAR review ruled out Kelly's goal due to an offside in the build-up, keeping the match scoreless until the dying moments. Arsenal's dominance in possession did not translate into goals until the late penalty.
Meanwhile, Manchester City made a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 against Bayern Munich in their own Champions League opener. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half, City managed to equalise with a late goal from Carlotta Wamser. The match marked a historic moment as City became the first English team to avoid defeat against Bayern in European competition.
City's performance improved significantly in the second half after Beth Mead's goal just before half-time shifted momentum. Despite missing an earlier penalty, Khadija Shaw was substituted shortly after, paving the way for Wamser to score the equaliser. Bayern had dominated the first half, but City capitalised on their chances to secure a valuable point away from home.
Sam Coffey, a midfielder for City, expressed pride in the team's resilience and depth. She noted that the squad's ability to adapt and respond to challenges is a key strength. Coffey highlighted the importance of their substitutions, which contributed to a more dynamic second-half performance, ultimately allowing City to leave Munich with a hard-fought draw.
via Sky Sports