Lisbon, Portugal – Arsenal Women don finally find di winning vibe wey dem dey search for as dem take shine luz for Benfica, beating dem 2-0 for UEFA Women Champions League last night.
Di match wey happen for Estádio da Luz no start well for di Gunners. Na after plenty grind and hustle for di first half, dem come finally break di deadlock around 57th minute. Beth Mead carry di ball enter net after some mix-up for Benfica defense (e fit be luck, but who go complain when you don score?), while Alessia Russo seal di deal with another goal just before di whistle blow.
As di teams warm up for di second half, e look like Arsenal go continue to stack dem errors from di last match wey dem lose to Lyon. But after dem don see di effects of losing, dem gree buckle up. Daphne van Domselaar, di Arsenal goalkeeper, keep dem in di match with some correct saves for di first half, especially when Diana Gomes nearly send ball enter di net.
For halftime, match stats show say Arsenal don hold possession (close to 70%) but dem no sabi wetin dem wan do with am (just dey play ball like say dem no dey). But as di second half unfold, na by chance play wey change di game. Mariona Caldentey cross pass go Beth Mead, and, after little confusion from Beatriz Cameirão, di ball just find space enter net (yarns from a coach’s nightmares, abi na dreams?).
No be small palava dey happen as Benfica dey try equalize, but di Gunners hold strong. Dani Gomes and crew no fit penetrate, and just when dem dey think sey dem fit salvage something, Alessia Russo come manage one final touch from a Chloe Kelly free-kick just before di end. Strike dey go bottom corner, and di fans shout with cheers (now, dis na how you finish your opponent!).
After di match, Mariona Caldentey dry some reality for di team. She talk say di Gunners gatz improve on dem game. “We need to be more consistent defensively. We gatz score more goals with di quality wey we get. Dis win na only di beginning,” she yarn.
Arsenal don sit for 9th position in di Champions League league-phase table, but no panic yet! Dem still fit recover as di season dey go. Di next match for di Gunners go be against Leicester City when di Women’s Super League return after di international break. As for Benfica, dem need to find dem groove before dem meet Maritimo for di League Cup.
So, wetin we learn today? Arsenal don show sey dem fit still flex dem muscles, but dey need some serious adjustments before dem go reign supreme again. We dey watch as di season unfold!
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