LONDON: Reigning champions Arsenal booked their spot in the Women’s Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea, despite a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg.
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Knowing they had to chase the game, Chelsea, who had manager Sonia Bompastor sent off late on, started at a furious pace. Yet Arsenal soon knocked them out of their rhythm, and the home side didn’t manage a single shot on target in the first half as the visitors took their time over every dead ball.
Arsenal grew into the game in the second half, but all the drama happened late on as Chelsea threw everything forward in an effort to get back in the tie.
Arsenal substitute Stina Blackstenius headed home from a cross from her Swedish compatriot Smilla Holmberg in the 80th minute, but the goal was chalked off after a VAR review found that the striker had been just offside in the build-up.
