Arsenal Women reach major final after ruthless performance
Arsenal secured their place in the first-ever Women’s Champions Cup final after a clear and confident 4-0 win against Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat.
Renee Slegers’ team entered the tournament as winners of the Women’s Champions League and arrived in Brentford as clear favourites.
The London side showed their class from the opening minutes and took control of the match very early.
Arsenal were sharp, calm, and well organised, carrying strong form from their big Women’s Super League win over Chelsea.
Slegers still named a strong starting side, even though she made several changes to her usual team.
Arsenal take full control before the break
The breakthrough came inside the opening eight minutes through Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius. She rose well in the box and guided a firm header past the AS FAR goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Arsenal doubled their lead soon after, with Frida Maanum firing home a powerful strike from range in the 12th minute.
The goal lifted the tempo even more, as Arsenal pushed forward with confidence and intent. Mariona Caldentey then added a third goal after calmly converting from the penalty spot.
Olivia Smith completed a dominant first-half display in the 41st minute with a well-taken fourth goal before the interval.
At that stage, AS FAR Rabat looked overwhelmed by the pressure and intensity from their opponents. The first half ended with the English side fully in control and the result all but sealed.
Changes bring more goals after the restart
Slegers made several changes after the break to manage minutes and give others a chance to impress. Alessia Russo was introduced in the second half and quickly made her presence felt.
The forward scored twice with calm and composed finishes, removing any remaining doubt. Despite the scoreline, AS FAR Rabat continued to show effort and discipline where possible.
They had brief spells of possession but struggled to trouble the Arsenal defence in key moments. The second half also saw the return of winger Chloe Kelly, who came off the bench.
The match ended with Arsenal fully deserved winners, having controlled the contest from start to finish.
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