PARIS: England striker Alessia Russo scored twice as holders Arsenal overcame Real Madrid 2-1 in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, while Manchester United suffered their first loss of the league phase.
Arsenal fell behind at Meadow Park to Scotland international Caroline Weir’s goal just before half-time, but Russo rescued the Gunners with a pair of second-half headers.
Russo looped a header over Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez to bring Arsenal level and then headed in the winner from a corner to end the Spanish side’s unbeaten record in the competition.
United slid to a 5-2 loss at Wolfsburg as Dutch internationals Ella Peddemors and Lineth Beerensteyn both struck twice.
Fridolina Rolfo headed United in front in Germany as Marc Skinner’s team began well in their search for a fourth successive win in Europe.
However, Wolfsburg equalized through Peddemors after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel.
Peddemors netted again with a cross that found its way in after eluding several players before Beerensteyn rifled in from distance to double Wolfsburg’s lead.
Melvine Malard’s lob got United back into the game just before half-time but Beerensteyn effectively secured the win for Wolfsburg with her second goal of the night.
Vivien Endemann added a fifth deep into stoppage time for Wolfsburg as they won for the third time in four matches.
“We had a good start, so we were hoping that it would be our game, but it was definitely not,” Rolfo told UEFA.com
“We’ll have to analyze this game and learn from it, because this is not how we want to play.”
The Germans moved above United on goal difference into third in the standings with two rounds of matches to play. The top four teams qualify directly for the quarter-finals.
“That we started the Champions League very well is the positive thing at the moment,” added Rolfo.
“We, of course, want to go far. Now we have two more games in the league phase. We have to give it our all and hopefully win both of them.”
Lyon sit top of the standings after producing an extraordinary fightback capped by captain Wendie Renard’s 90th-minute penalty to earn a 3-3 draw with Juventus.
The Italian side looked to be cruising after goals from Chiara Beccari, Michela Cambiaghi and Tatiana Pinto in the first half gave them a 3-0 lead.
But Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back for Lyon on the hour and Marie-Antoinette Katoto grabbed another before Renard converted from the spot to snatch a point and keep the record eight-time European champions unbeaten.
Lyon have 10 points and are one clear of Barcelona, Wolfsburg and United.
Barcelona visit Chelsea on Thursday, with both sides vying to take over top spot. Chelsea have seven points from their opening three matches.
Paris FC picked up their first win as they beat 10-woman Benfica 2-0 in the French capital.
St. Poelten snapped a run of three successive defeats as they came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 at Valerenga to register their first point in the competition.
Arsenal beat Real Madrid as Man Utd lose in Women’s Champions League
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Arsenal beat Real Madrid as Man Utd lose in Women’s Champions League
- United slid to a 5-2 loss at Wolfsburg as Dutch internationals Ella Peddemors and Lineth Beerensteyn both struck twice
Desert Vipers hold nerve to edge Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 thriller
- Key contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Khuzaima Tanveer prove decisive as the Vipers weather tense finish to overhaul target of 171
- Knight Riders start well, reaching 87 in 10 overs, but momentum shifts in second half of their inning as the Vipers’ spinners struck back
SHARJAH: Desert Vipers made it two wins out of two in the DP World International League T20, as they held their nerve to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Shimron Hetmyer’s counterattacking 48 off 25 balls, and a late-order cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer, who hit 31 off just 12 deliveries, proved decisive as the Vipers weathered a tense finish to overhaul a target of 171.
Sent in to bat, the Knight Riders made a confident start through Phil Salt and Alex Hales, with the latter anchoring the inning to top-score with 53 off 37 balls.
Despite reaching 87 in 10 overs, however, the momentum shifted in the second half of the inning as the Vipers’ spinners began to strike regularly. Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad led the middle-overs fightback, dismissing Hales and triggering a collapse as the Knight Riders lost five wickets.
Andre Russell’s unbeaten 36, and useful contributions from Alishan Sharafu and Unmukt Chand, at least helped Abu Dhabi reach a competitive total, but they were unable to fully capitalize on the side’s strong opening.
The Vipers began explosively in reply, smashing a tournament-record 19 runs from the first over. However, early wickets then left them wobbling on 44/3. Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence rebuilt the attack before the latter combined with Hetmyer for a crucial 68-run stand that swung the contest back in the their favor.
Late strikes from Ajay Kumar and Russell, the latter dismissing Hetmyer for his 500th T20 wicket, set up a tense finish, but Tanveer delivered under pressure. Needing eight runs off the final over, he sealed victory with a six and a boundary.
“It was, in many ways, a fortunate escape but an outstanding result for us,” said Curran, the Vipers’ stand-in captain.
“ADKR possess a very powerful batting lineup, and I believe our bowlers performed exceptionally well throughout the innings. The dismissals of Hetmyer and Dan introduced an unexpected twist but the team showed commendable composure in the crucial moments.”
Knight Riders’ stand-in skipper Sunil Narine felt his side had been lacking with the bat: “We were 15-20 runs short. We began well in the powerplay and that phase was crucial for us.
“The conditions eventually worked in their favor and the dew made it challenging for our spinners. But at the end of the day that’s part of the game.”
The result leaves the Vipers well placed at this early stage of the tournament, while the Knight Riders were left to reflect on missed opportunities after such a strong start.
