PARIS: Bayern Munich overturned a two-goal deficit to stun holders Arsenal 3-2 in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday.
Emily Fox’s early header and Mariona Caldentey’s 23rd-minute shot from the edge of the box appeared to have put Arsenal in total control in Munich.
But Bayern dug deep in the second half to execute an astonishing turnaround.
Alara began the fightback in the 67th minute, with substitute Pernille Harder’s superb strike drawing the Germans level, before Glodis Viggosdottir snatched the winner, prodding home Klara Buehl’s low cross with four minutes left.
“To be honest, this is a winning team with a winning mentality,” Bayern coach Jose Barcala told Disney+.
“We always believe we can win the game even when we are 2-0 down. We stay together, we find solutions together, and until the referee blows the whistle, we stay going and keep believing,” he added.
This was Arsenal’s second defeat out of three, and it left the London side in the play-off zone for a place in the quarter-finals in the new format league phase.
The 18-team table is led by three-time winners Barcelona, who swept aside Belgian European debutants OH Leuven 3-0.
Alexia Putellas opened the scoring for the hosts with a penalty in first-half injury time.
An own-goal from Kim Everaerts extended Barca’s lead after the break with Irene Paredes completing a good night’s work to make it three from three and lift the Spaniards top of the standings on goal difference from Lyon.
The headline match later is Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Manchester United, marking former United goalkeeper Mary Earps’ first return to her old club since moving to France.
The game will also be the first time United’s women have played a European tie at Old Trafford rather than their regular home at the 12,000-capacity Leigh Sports Village ground.
Bayern battle back to shock Arsenal in Women’s Champions League
https://arab.news/j4dut
Bayern battle back to shock Arsenal in Women’s Champions League
- Bayern dug deep in the second half to execute an astonishing turnaround
- “To be honest, this is a winning team with a winning mentality,” Bayern coach Jose Barcala told Disney+
Man United’s Jim Ratcliffe reminded of his responsibilities but no FA charge for ‘colonized’ claim
- Football Association will not be charging Ratcliffe over his comments
- Ratcliffe’s comments touched a nerve in Britain, where immigration is a divisive issue
MANCHESTER: Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has been reminded of his “responsibilities as a participant in English football” after he triggered a storm of criticism for claiming Britain had been “colonized” by immigrants.
But England’s Football Association will not be charging Ratcliffe over his comments, which were widely condemned by political figures, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the club’s supporters.
The governing body issued Ratcliffe with a reminder of his responsibilities when taking part in media interviews, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
British billionaire Ratcliffe, who owns petrochemicals giant INEOS, made the comments during an interview with Sky News, which aired last week.
“You can’t have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK’s been colonized.”
Ratcliffe’s comments touched a nerve in Britain, where immigration is a divisive issue. He later said he was sorry his choice of language had “offended some people.”
Starmer had earlier called for him to apologize, saying “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country.”
United fans, who are proud of the diversity within the team and their supporter base, also condemned his words.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust said the “senior leadership should make inclusion easier, not harder.”
Critics accused Ratcliffe of “hypocrisy,” saying he has chosen to make his home in Monaco to reduce his UK tax bill.
Carrick proud of Man United’s culture
United’s head coach, Michael Carrick, said earlier Friday that the Premier League club was proud of their culture of equality and diversity.
Carrick, who was recently hired as coach until the end of the season, faced the media for the first time since Ratcliffe’s remarks and he was asked for his response.
“Sir Jim has made a statement, and then the club’s made a statement on the back of it so for me to add to that is not my place,” he said. “What I can say is, as I’ve been around this club many, many years, we always make a huge impact globally.
“We’re really proud of the environment and the culture that we’ve got at the club, and equality and diversity and respect for each other is something that we look to carry through every day.”
