Barcelona lay down marker in Women's Champions League, Arsenal slip up
PARIS: Barcelona continued their emphatic start to their defence of the Women’s Champions League title by brushing aside Roma 6-0 in the Italian capital on Wednesday, while a bizarre penalty incident caused Arsenal to let slip a two-goal lead at Paris FC.
Paris-based Barcelona solidified their lead in the Women's Champions League title defence by thrashing Roma 6-0 in Italy on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Arsenal faltered at Paris FC, squandering a two-goal advantage to draw the match 2-2. Barcelona has shown no signs of missing Alexia Putellas, who joined London's City Lionesses this offseason.
The team now boasts six points from two league-phase games and has scored 11 goals. Caroline Graham Hansen scored in last week's 5-2 home win against Paris FC and got Barcelona off to a quick start with a goal inside the first 20 minutes in Rome. Shukurat Oladipo's own goal put Roma two goals up before the half, but Claudia Pina sealed the victory early in the second period.
Graham Hansen completed her brace, bringing her tournament tally to three goals already. Pina added another early in the final quarter of an hour, and Ewa Pajor secured the win late in the game. Arsenal, after an unconvincing home win against HB Koge thanks to an injury-time penalty, faced a late penalty call against Paris FC in the return fixture.
Goals from Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway put Arsenal ahead in the first half, but Clara Mateo's goal leveled the score in the 71st minute. Despite their efforts, England's captain Leah Williamson made a crucial mistake with three minutes left, causing goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez to pass the ball to the handling defender, leading to Maeline Mendy's decisive penalty.
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