(Football news) Arsenal Women advanced to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League despite a 4-1 defeat against Hoffenheim at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion in the final Group C match. The Gunners were fortunate to have gone through as a defeat by five goals or more would have ensured they would not have progressed alongside FC Barcelona into the last eight but only lost by a three goal margin.
Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal started off the match brightly as Vivianne Miedema missed a good opportunity by heading wide while Martina Tufekovic saved shots from Beth Mead and Kim Little. The hosts then broke the deadlock against the run of play through Jule Brand as the 19 year old fired past Williams in the 21st minute. Kim Little was denied again by Tufekovic in the 36th minute and the Gunners managed to level the scoring two minutes later when Mead’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper and the ball went off Laura Wienroither who tried to stop Mana Iwabuchi's attempt for an own goal.
In the second half, Hoffenheim went all guns blazing as Chantal Hagel capitalized on some poor play by Arsenal to score past Williams in the 55th and 57th minute. Corley then made it 4-1 at the hour mark with a header and it became an almost crisis situation for Arsenal who looked seriously at risk of being eliminated from the group stage with 30 minutes to go. Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall brought on Nikita Parris and Jordan Nobbs for Mead and Iwabuchi as they tried to contain Hoffenheim’s lead.
The hosts won a freekick in a dangerous position in the 89th minute which Hoffenheim forward Petra Kocsan failed to convert after which Miedema and Nobbs tested Tufekovic but failed to find the back of the net. The final whistle was heard soon after, guaranteeing Arsenal a place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League. The Women’s Super League leaders will next face Brighton on Saturday, hoping to put some distance between themselves and 2nd place Chelsea.
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