Arsenal received caught within the mud throughout their Champions League quarter-final match, conceding a two-goal deficit within the first leg of their two-legged tie in Madrid, on a pitch described by Ian Wright as ‘a f***ing shame.’
In per week the place the pitch situations in a few of girls’s soccer’s most important video games have come beneath fireplace – with gamers and managers alike criticising the standard of the Pleasure Park turf for the Girls’s League Cup remaining between Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis on Sunday – the grass at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano as soon as once more was a bathroom for this quarter-final conflict.
Wright stated: ‘Watching the Champions League quarter-final Actual Madrid pitch, that is worse than Derby’s pitch the opposite day within the Conti Cup remaining. This can be a f***ing shame these ladies should play on.’
The sport started cautiously, with each groups – assembly within the Girls’s Champions League for the primary time – struggling to adapt to the situations.
Arsenal gave the impression to be the primary to settle in, with Stina Blackstenius testing Actual Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez with an early shot after pouncing on Alessia Russo’s well-timed cross.
Linda Caicedo, the younger Colombian who dazzled within the 2023 World Cup together with her blistering tempo, rapidly emerged as Madrid’s most potent menace, taking over Emily Fox and driving into the field earlier than the USA right-back managed to scramble the ball away.
Actual Madrid earned a 2-0 win over Arsenal of their Champions League quarter-final first leg
The standard of the enjoying floor on the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano got here beneath fireplace
Arsenal legend Ian Wright took to social media to label the pitch as a ‘f***ing shame’
In opposition to the run of play, the 20-year-old seized a possibility throughout Madrid’s counter-attack.
A easy cross to her, which ought to have been handled by Leah Williamson, was fired by Caicedo previous Manuela Zinsberger, giving Madrid the lead.
From that time, the house group’s confidence surged, and Arsenal’s passing sport grew more and more sloppy.
Slegers made adjustments at half-time, bringing Chloe Kelly on for Beth Mead, who had been largely invisible within the first half, apart from a late shot on purpose. Stina Blackstenius additionally made method for Caitlin Foord, transferring Alessia Russo into the No. 9 place, the place she is simplest.
Kelly seemed to be probably the most promising attacker of the night however was in the end unable to swing the momentum in Arsenal’s favour.
Actual Madrid doubled their lead shortly earlier than the top of the second half, giving themselves a strong cushion heading into the second leg on the Emirates subsequent week.
Athenea del Castillo obtained the ball from former Gunner Caroline Weir on the sting of the penalty space, and fired a low shot at Manuela Zinsberger.
The Austria worldwide, in for Daphne van Domselaar, received a hand to it, however the ball spun away from her and into the web, a lot to the delight of the house crowd.
