Live Blog: Arsenal Women host Rosenborg in crucial Champions League qualifier

Arsenal are three games from reaching the Champions League group stage



Live Blog: Arsenal Women host Rosenborg in crucial Champions League qualifier

Arsenal vice-captain Leah Williamson in action at Meadow Park. Credit- Suzy Lycett @boodlepim


Live BLog Saturday Sep 7th

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:19 #5030

    Full-time: Arsenal 1-0 Rosenborg!

  2. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:17 #5029

    90+1' Good vision from Williamson to pick out Blackstenius with a long ball but she heads over. 1-0

  3. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:16 #5028

    90+1' Three added minutes. 1-0

  4. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:14 #5027

    89' More good build-up play from Caldentey and Russo before Mead can't hit the target on her left foot. 1-0

  5. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:12 #5026

    87' A sign of desperation there as Nautnes shoots from a crossing position on a rare counter-attack and it's an easy claim for Zinsberger. 1-0

  6. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:10 #5025

    84' The official attendance at Meadow Park is 3,164. 1-0

  7. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:09 #5024

    84' Sodal replaces Marcussen for Rosenborg, who are going to start committing bodies forward now. 1-0

  8. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:08 #5023

    83' McCabe swings in a free-kick from the right and Mead can't bring it down. Arsenal keep the ball and a resulting cross is headed away. 1-0

  9. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:07 #5022

    82' Arsenal make a double change after Caldentey is fouled- Mead and Walti on for Foord and Cooney-Cross. 1-0

  10. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:06 #5021

    81' Williamson's shot is cleared off the line from a corner! 1-0

  11. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:03 #5020

    78' Little's low cross/shot flashes wide of the far post. 1-0

  12. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:01 #5019

    75' Berre is down with a head injury but she will be able to continue. Arsenal are 15 minutes away from the final round of Champions League qualification. 1-0

  13. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:57 #5018

    71' Russo hits the crossbar for the second time in the game before Cooney-Cross hits the same part of the woodwork from a long way out! So, so close. 1-0

  14. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:55 #5017

    70' Stina Blackstenius comes on for Frida Maanum- Russo will drop into the 10 role. 1-0

  15. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:55 #5016

    69' Fox goes for goal from 25 yards and Rulyte makes another good save down to her left. 1-0

  16. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:54 #5015

    69' Rosenborg make a change as Holum is replaced by Brennskag-Dorsin. 1-0

  17. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:53 #5014

    67' Arsenal's intricate passing isn't quite quick enough and Rosenborg have ten players camped behind the ball. The Gunners need a second soon. 1-0

  18. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:50 #5013

    64' The Norwegian side come forward again and Zinsberger has to watch the ball sail just over the bar. This has been their best spell so far. 1-0

  19. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:47 #5012

    60' Rosenborg's first real effort on goal as Dahl fires her shot over from a long way out. 1-0

  20. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:45 #5011

    59' Russo heads wide from Lionesses teammate Williamson's cross. 1-0

  21. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:44 #5010

    58' In other news, Mariona Caldentey's chant, to the tune of Twist and Shout, is an absolute earworm already. Brilliant work by all involved. 1-0

  22. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:42 #5009

    56' Rosenborg have the ball in the net but Holum is a whole postcode offside and the flag is raised. 1-0

  23. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:38 #5008

    52' Arsenal are putting more crosses into boxes than voters at an election, but still Rosenborg are hanging on in there. A second goal should be more than enough for the home side. 1-0

  24. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:36 #5007

    50' Williamson is fuming after being dragged down in the box. The referee says no to a penalty and Caldentey's fearsome shot flies into the North Bank. 1-0

  25. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:35 #5006

    49' Arsenal go close again as Russo's shot is deflected wide after being set up by McCabe. 1-0

  26. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:33 #5005

    47' McCabe's free-kick is worked to Maanum by Foord and her header is saved well by Rulyte. 1-0

  27. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:33 #5004

    47' Yellow card for Magnusdottir after she brings down Russo on the break. 1-0

  28. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:32 #5003

    46' Wonderful tackle by Kyra Cooney-Cross to put an end to Berre's run in behind- McCabe had been caught high up the pitch and Rosenborg were in there. 1-0

  29. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:31 #5002

    46' The second half has kicked off, with Arsenal unchanged. 1-0

  30. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:28 #5001

    All 12 of Arsenal's substitutes are out warming up.

  31. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:20 #5000

    Arsenal had more than 80 percent of the ball in that first half.

  32. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:17 #4999

    Dominant from Arsenal again and they could be 3 or 4 up, going for goal from everywhere and playing some good football. Maanum the goalscorer, with Russo coming close too.

  33. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:16 #4998

    Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Rosenborg.

  34. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:13 #4997

    42' Arsenal are queuing up for this second goal, Caldentey shooting over the bar from the edge of the box. 1-0

  35. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:12 #4996

    42' Clever from McCabe who sets up to shoot but instead plays a 1-2 with Caldentey and then her eventual effort is blocked. 1-0

  36. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:11 #4995

    40' Maanum is enjoying herself out there and bends a shot just past the top corner. 1-0

  37. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:07 #4994

    36' Holum is able to get in behind for Rosenborg but Codina is too good, forcing a foul by the Norway U23 international. 1-0

  38. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:06 #4993

    35' Super save from Rulyte to deny Russo from making it 2-0.

  39. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:03 #4992

    33' Slick build-up play from Arsenal and Russo fires her effort wide of the far post, going for accuracy rather than power. 1-0

  40. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:01 #4991

    31' A collector's item. Little carves open the midfield with a run from deep and elects to go for goal, dragging it wide. Normally she'd be unselfish, sometimes too much so, but she was within range there. 1-0

  41. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:00 #4990

    30' Foord has been lively again, delivered the cross for the opener and again for Russo's header onto the bar just now. 1-0

  42. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:58 #4989

    28' Russo heads onto the top of the crossbar from a deep cross! 1-0

  43. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:56 #4988

    25' Fox is making inroads from right-back and her cross is cleared away. Arsenal then work the ball well into Foord who blasts over from inside the box. 1-0

  44. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:54 #4987

    23' It was Foord who delivered the initial cross which was spilled by goalkeeper Rulyte, and Maanum was alive at the back post to make it 1-0. 1-0

  45. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:50 #4986

    19' Goal! Frida Maanum opens her account for the season, smashing home a rebound a few yards out from goal. 1-0

  46. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:49 #4985

    18' It's been a quiet start for Arsenal against a very well-organised Rosenborg team. Caldentey looked dangerous early on and Russo is growing into the game with a couple of chances. 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:46 #4984

    15' And now Russo can work some space in the box before finding the side netting with a low effort. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:45 #4983

    15' Fox crosses for her former college teammate Russo, but her header is straight up in the air and Rosenborg clear their lines. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:44 #4982

    14' A young section of Arsenal fans in front of the press box are singing all of the popular chants, but are ensuring that they remove any bad language that might be present in the songs. They'll grow up soon... 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:43 #4981

    12' A foray into the Arsenal box for Rosenborg but Zinsberger gets to the ball just in front of Nautnes. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:41 #4980

    10' Williamson sent in a few crosses on Wednesday night and she's forward to deliver again, just too high for the heads of Maanum and Russo. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:40 #4979

    8' The legendary Vic Akers is in attendance at Meadow Park this evening. He will rightly be expecting good things from this Arsenal side, a club he was instrumental in founding and taking forward. You'll hear more about him in the next Gooner Fanzine: Arsenal Women edition... 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:37 #4978

    7' It's that woman again, Caldentey driving into the box after being played through by McCabe and she bends her shot just wide of the far post. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:35 #4977

    5' Arsenal's summer signing Caldentey has seen a lot of the ball so far and crosses into the hands of Rulyte, who was superb for Rosenborg in midweek against Atletico. The keeper made one stunning save and kept out two penalties in the shoot-out. 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:32 #4976

    1' Caldentey bursts forward in the opening minute and pulls the ball back to Russo, who drags her shot wide. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:31 #4975

    1' We are underway at Meadow Park! 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:27 #4974

    Arsenal are in red and white, Rosenborg a stylish all-black with more sponsors than a Formula One car.

  58. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:26 #4973

    Here come the teams!

  59. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:24 #4972

    Good news for the purists, Arsenal’s subs are back on the subs bench after sitting in the stands on Wednesday night! Proper football is back.

  60. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:20 #4971

    Hammersmith-born Shroot barks out instructions in English to his Norwegian side, having moved to Norway as a player after spells with the likes of Stevenage in the EFL.

  61. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:18 #4970

    Both sides have finished warming up and are going through their final preparations. Jonas Eidevall and his opposite number Robin Shroot chatted for a good ten minutes or so before the warm-ups.

  62. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:13 #4969

    Kim Little scored from the penalty spot and Alessia Russo also distressed the top corner on a one-sided night at Meadow Park in which Manu Zinsberger did not face a shot on goal.

  63. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:11 #4968

    Arsenal vs Rangers was equally as dramatic, but there was no cause for concern for the home fans as Jonas Eidevall's side romped to a 6-0 win. Caitlin Foord hogged the headlines with four (FOUR!) goals.

  64. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:10 #4967

    Anyway, that's the admin taken care of. Atletico Madrid were Rosenborg's victims on Wednesday, with Robin Shroot's side winning on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw that went the distance.

  65. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:07 #4966

    And the draw for that next round of qualifying is at 12pm on Monday. Knowing UEFA, it will probably finish some time next year...

  66. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:03 #4965

    Correction- Arsenal cannot face PSG, Wolfsburg or Real Madrid as they are seeded teams. It's complicated!

  67. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:59 #4964

    Arsenal or Rosenborg will face one of PSG, Wolfsburg, Real Madrid, Juventus, BK Hacken, Fiorentina, Paris FC, and one of Breidablik or Sporting Lisbon, which is currently 0-1.

  68. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:58 #4963

    Tonight's victor will progress into the second (and final) round of qualifying for the group stage, a two-legged game that will involve home and away games.

  69. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:53 #4962

    Beth Mead is back in the squad after she trained with the team yesterday, whereas Steph Catley is still out. Mead replaces Vivienne Lia on the Arsenal bench.

  70. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:50 #4961

    Both sides are warming up on a warm evening here in Borehamwood. It's not quite a sellout, but it feels like one.

  71. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:47 #4960

    Rosenborg: Sneve, Ervik, Leine, Aunehagen, Birkelund, Brennskag-Dorsin, Bronstad, Sodal, Buberg.

  72. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:45 #4959

    Rosenborg: Rulyte; Dahl, Tomter, Harviken, Rogde; Marcussen, Magnusdottir, Sorum; Nautnes, Holum, Berre.

  73. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:44 #4958

    Arsenal subs: van Domselaar, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Mead, Walti, Kafaji, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Godfrey, Agyemang, Reid.

  74. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:43 #4957

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; McCabe, Codina, Williamson, Fox; Cooney-Cross, Little; Caldentey, Maanum, Foord; Russo.

  75. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:43 #4956

    Arsenal have named an unchanged side from Wednesday's thrashing of Rangers.

  76. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:42 #4955

    Good evening and welcome to my coverage of Arsenal Women's Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg, live from Meadow Park.


NEW! Subscribe to our weekly Gooner Fanzine newsletter for all the latest news, views, and videos from the intelligent voice of Arsenal supporters since 1987.

Please note that we will not share your email address with any 3rd parties.


Article Rating

Leave a comment

Sign-in with your Online Gooner forum login to add your comment. If you do not have a login register here.