UEFA Women’s Champions League – Match Highlights
Arsenal women 4-0 Fiorentina Femminile
After winning the FA Women’s Superleague in the 2018-19 season, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Joe Montemurro’s Arsenal Women are aiming high in this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Written by: Mika Chen
Playing against Fiorentina Women’s FC on Thursday, 12th September at Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Lady Gunners showed just how far they were willing to go to fulfil that aim, pulling out a convincing 4-0 win over the Italian side. With goals from forward Lisa Evans, captain and midfielder Kim Little as well as two from striker Vivianne Miedema, it’s safe to say that the Gunners dominated this first leg.
Arsenal got off to a strong start in the first half and produced some good plays, resulting in a fairly early opener from Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema at 18 minutes. After a well-placed ball through the Fiorentina backline and some slight confusion between Miedema and Arsenal forward Beth Mead over who is to take the shot, Miedema takes a touch and strategically places the ball past Fiorentina keeper Francesca Durante into the bottom left corner.
Photo Credit: Arsenal.com
The second goal comes at 32 minutes, from Arsenal’s Captain Kim Little, following an instrumental 1-2-1 between herself and Madeira, sending it spiralling into the bottom-right corner.
With little to no rivalry from Sandro Mencucci’s Serie A side, the Gunners maintained their strong start through half time, and soon enough an early goal comes from Miedema again a mere 6 minutes into the second half.
As skipper Kim Little spotted an opportunity she makes a run from the left flank into the middle, using quick feet to penetrate Fiorentina’s defence. Despite losing the ball before having a shot at goal, her pressure on the defenders is enough; in the chaos, the ball has trickled right into the box, as well as into the pathway of Miedema- who instantaneously scooped it up and strikes into the back of the net.
No shorter than 5 minutes later come another goal; this time from Arsenal forward Lisa Evans. A short cross from Beth Mead on the backline, followed by a deflection off of a defender’s head means it comes to Evans, who pelted it into the back of the net with a precise left-footed volley.
Fiorentina, who finished second in Serie A last season, rarely posed any threat whatsoever to the English champions. Other than a header in the last minute from Fiorentina striker Ilaria Mauro, there were nearly no other chances on target for the Italian team.
Photo Credit: Fiorentina Women’s FC
On the other hand, Arsenal could have easily scored at least another 3 goals, as they take this win and move upwards, showing the other teams exactly how much of a threat they can potentially be in the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2019/20.
