Bayern Munich 3-2 Arsenal: Pernille Harder inspires Bavarians to comeback win over stuttering Gunners in Women’s Champions League
Arsenal’s WSL frustrations transferred over to European action as Renee Slegers’ side threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League.
The Gunners were left aggrieved after some controversial refereeing decisions cost them all three points against Chelsea last time out, but used that disappointment to fuel a convincing first-half display at the Allianz Arena.
Goals from Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey put the visitors in a commanding position, but a stunning second-half comeback inspired by Pernille Harder saw the European champions succumb to a second defeat in three Champions League games.
Glodis Viggosdottir completed a stunning second-half comeback
Slegers said pre-match that despite the frustrations with how the game against Chelsea transpired, she was happy with the performance which led her to name an unchanged XI against the German champions.
That decision paid dividends almost immediately as Fox was able to follow in a Beth Mead shot to loop a header past Maria Grohs to give the visitors the lead inside the opening five minutes.
Emily Fox gave Arsenal the perfect start against Bayern Munich
Caldentey doubled the advantage with a stunning strike from the edge of the box as the WSL side appeared to be in total control.
It would turn out to be a tale of two halves though, as Bayern came out the far more intense of the two after the break. Jose Barcala’s changes turned the game on its head, with substitutes Alara Sehitler and Harder grabbing the two goals to restore parity with a quarter of the game to go.
Mariona Caldentey’s effort from the edge of the area doubled Arsenal’s lead
Harder’s goal, an incredible volley from range arrowed into the top corner, left Arsenal on the ropes. The knockout blow would be delivered by Munich captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir, who snuck in at the front post to convert Klara Buhl’s cross.
The second-half capitulation from Arsenal leaves them on just three points from as many Champions League games, rendering their chances for finishing in the top four of the league phase and qualifying for the quarter-final stage near impossible.
More to follow.
Champions League fixtures
