Arsenal booked their spot in the Women’s Champions League semi-final after Alessia Russo’s brace helped ensure a heroic comeback performance at the Emirates, with the hosts overturning a two-goal deficit to go through 3-2 winners on aggregate.
The Gunners are still the only English team to have won this most coveted of cups, but it was starting to look as if their sole victory 18 years ago could quickly slip into 19, with their first-half dominance ending without any numerical reward.
But Russo, who has had such a wonderful season since Renee Slegers took charge last October, pulled her team back into the competition with the help of her Lionesses teammate Chloe Kelly, as well as a wonderful goal from Mariona Caldentey.
Slegers said: ‘It’s just a credit to everyone, staff and players. We’ve worked hard to prepare for this game, but when the moment is there – because you can prepare for everything in theory – but to actually do it and execute it in this moment under pressure is so strong of the girls.’
Slegers was particularly complimentary of Kelly’s involvement, saying: ‘We played to her strengths today really well. There was quite a lot of space, so we set up situations where there was space for Chloe to do the things she’s good at.
‘She came in with a lot of motivation and a smile on her face, and she said, “I want to enjoy football. I want to represent Arsenal. I want to do my best for the team.”
Alessia Russo inspired Arsenal to a dramatic comeback win against Real Madrid
Her brace sent the Gunners to the last-four of the Women’s Champions League where they will face Lyon
Renee Slegers was full of praise for her side but singled out Chloe Kelly after the match
‘I think that’s what she’s done since she came in. I knew the qualities she had as a player, but to see her day in, day out, I think she really contributes to our training environment. She’s very feisty, she’s a winner, very competitive. She’s great. We’re very happy with her.’
Arsenal went into this fixture two goals behind on the night after losing their first leg in the tricky conditions of Real Madrid’s Alfredo di Stefano Stadium last week.
The hosts put on a quite a show in the first half, setting the tempo early on in front of a record-breaking crowd for a Women’s Champions League quarter-final in England.
It was clear that they were keen to get things rolling from the very first minute.
Caldentey scuppered a chance early on. The Spain international found herself unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box but was unable to turn Katie McCabe’s corner in.
The concern was that Madrid – and their speedster Linda Caicedo – were a lethal counter-attacking side, as this team discovered the hard way in last week’s defeat in Spain’s capital.
And this threat almost rang true on the edge of half-time, with Arsenal’s goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar – back in for Manuela Zinsberger – forced to make a double-save to keep out Angeldahl from distance and Caicedo at her near post.
The whistle blew, and the nerves were radiating around the Emirates.
Mariona Caldentey netted a wonderful goal of her own in a blistering start to the second half
Mikel Arteta and the men’s team will take on Real Madrid as well in the Champions League
They shouldn’t have bothered, though. Many were still returning to their seats when Kelly and Russo decided to snatch this game by the scruff of the neck.
It took less than a minute for the Manchester City loanee – who is beginning to look more and more like a north Londoner with every second that passes – to tee up her Lionesses teammate, with Russo stretching wide and poking it home.
Arsenal’s tails were up, and Madrid began to unravel as the Emirates performed their perfect 12th-player act, cheering on every positive action and berating anything that went the other way.
Four minutes later, Kelly was romping down the right wing again, this time her ball finding former Barcelona midfielder Caldentey, who sent a diving header past her once-arch nemesis.
Russo bagged her brace to take Arsenal into the lead for the first time in the fixture in the 59th minute. Katie McCabe’s free-kick was headed down by Steph Catley, and the striker karate-chopped the ball into the top right-hand corner.
Russo had two further goals ruled out for offside, but it didn’t matter, the Gunners were already on the road to the semi-final.
Up next is eight-time Champions League winners Lyon, with the first leg to be held in north London.
