We produced a performance for the ages on an historic night in N5 as three goals in 14 minutes at the start of the second half saw us come from 2-0 down to beat Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Two Chloe Kelly crosses were dispatched with aplomb by Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey as our dominant display got the big goals it so richly deserved, before Russo made it three from a Katie McCabe free-kick.
what happened
We had the ball almost exclusively in Madrid’s half for the first 25 minutes of the match, starting fast at Arsenal Stadium as Kelly’s dangerous low cross from the right was gathered by Misa Rodriguez.
Coming agonisingly close to an early opener, Caldentey headed just wide of the top right corner after she was left in time and space from a Frida Maanum corner.
Russo lifted a cross into the box and Caitlin Foord rushed onto it, heading over the bar, before Madrid gave the ball away from the following goal-kick and Russo’s shot was deflected into the path of Kelly, who flicked it past Rodriguez but not towards goal.
Madrid had their first sight of goal in the 41st minute, forcing a huge double save from Daphne van Domselaar, who made one stop from Filippa Angeldal and then got up to deny Linda Caicedo - who was eventually flagged offside - on the rebound from close range.
Maanum struck wide of the bottom right from just inside the 18-yard box as we went into the break goalless following a breathless first half.
At half-time it was clear that, if we could just get players on the end of Kelly’s delicious deliveries into the box, we’d be in business, and that’s exactly what happened early in the second half, not once, but twice.
Her 46th minute cross was converted by Russo to bring us right back into the tie, and her next cross was headed by Caldentey with too much power for Rodriguez just three minutes later to equalise on aggregate and raise the roof in N5.
Just 10 minutes later, the turnaround was complete, this time courtesy of a McCabe free-kick that was headed down into a dangerous area by Steph Catley. Russo was on hand to rifle it into the roof of the net, completing an unforgettable 14-minute period.
Russo thought she'd got her hat-trick when she flicked a Maanum cross into the bottom left corner, but the goal was subsequently ruled out for offside before Maanum and Kelly made way for Lia Walti and Beth Mead.
Mead curled a venomous free-kick around the Madrid wall that was headed way by Maëlle Lakrar, and Russo headed another effort just wide as we determined that attack was the best form of defence.
María Méndez gave the ball away and Russo had another great chance for her hat-trick, but this time Rodriguez was equal to it with 10 minutes left on the clock, before Mead then curled a free-kick whiskers over the top left corner.
Russo had another goal flagged offside as we thought we'd made it 4-2 for the second time in the 89th minute, and Stina Blackstenius came on for Kim Little, who had quietly gone about a crucial performance, in the game's dying embers.
Van Domselaar made another huge stop in the 93rd minute, denying Caicedo as Madrid went in pursuit of what would have been a devastating late equaliser, as some supporters couldn't bare to watch!
But we kept Madrid at bay, producing what will go down as one of the most memorable matches in the history of Arsenal Women.
what it means
We’ve booked our place in the semi-finals! We will face Lyon over two legs, after they beat Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate, with the full fixture details to be confirmed in due course.
what's next
We're back in Barclays Women's Super League action with a trip to Crystal Palace for a 2pm kick-off on Sunday.
Attendance: 22,517 (new Women's Champions League quarter-final record)
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