Arsenal’s WSL season began in satisfactory fashion on Friday, after a week’s delay, as they set out on the long road to dethroning London rivals Chelsea from their pre-eminent position in English football....CONTINUE READING
Leah Williamson and Beth Mead returned to domestic action in front of a capacity crowd at Meadow Park, and after Brighton’s Emma Kullberg was sent off in the sixth minute, the result was never in doubt.
Mead scored twice in the second half after Kim Little and Stina Blackstenius had given Arsenal a comfortable lead before the hour mark, as the home team fired 34 shots on their visitors’ goal.
Now, coach Jonas Eidevall must quickly turn his attention to European competition, ensuring that his team can match, if not better, their run to the Champions League quarterfinals last season.
In contrast to their hosts, Ajax Vrouwen began their first competitive action of the season in mid-August after qualifying for the 2022–23 Champions League preliminary round by finishing runners-up to Twente in the Eredivisie.
The road to next year’s final in Eindhoven began with Ajax defeating Kristiansands and then Eintracht Frankfurt Women in the first qualifying round.
After a hard-fought battle with the latter, substitute Eshly Bakker scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time, eliminating the four-time champions.
However, after beginning their league campaign at home with a 4-0 victory over Fortuna Sittard Vrouwen, in which Victoria Pelova scored twice, Ajax is well-positioned for a challenging test of their credentials on the international stage.
KICKOFF TIME: Arsenal versus Ajax Women match will go down tomorrow at 8:30PM Nigerian time.
