Arsenal Women 1-0 HB Koge: Champions League report by Layth Yousif at Meadow Park
Mariona Caldentey’s 93rd minute penalty spared Arsenal’s blushes as Renée Slegers side edged past their battling visitors HB Koge in front of 1,910 fans at Meadow Park on Tuesday evening.
In a Champions League group containing heavyweights Barcelona and Lyon, Slegers side could scarcely afford to drop points against the Danish part-timers. That they didn’t, despite a lukewarm start to their WSL campaign, was more to do with their persistence, than any inherent superiority against their well-drilled opponents.
Arsenal made eight changes from the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at the Emirates on Saturday evening with Steph Catley, Leah Williamson and Stina Blackstenius the only players who kept their place.
Chloe Kelly fired a shot that Danish keeper Alberte Vignum appeared to tip over the bar, but Greek referee Eleni Antoniou failed to award a corner, much to the double European Championship winner’s frustration. Moments later Frida Maanum tested Vignum with a rasping effort that the 21-year-old did well to parry. Vignum was also up to the task just before the half hour mark, when No12 Maanum drilled an effort that Koge’s keeper gathered.
Four minutes before half time Kyra Cooney-Cross drilled a low shot that flew narrowly past Vignum’s right hand post.
As the teams reached the interval goalless there was a lighthearted moment when Koge manager Kristian Morch turned and passionately celebrated the 0-0 half-time scoreline with his substitutes and staff. Prior to promptly falling over the barrier at the front of the dugout – much to the mirth of the home support. Luckily the head coach saw the funny side, smiling and bowing to the Arsenal fans with good humour.
HB Koge are top of the Danish league, lifting the title last term. It showed, as the Scandinavians were organised, well-drilled and compact, continuing their obdurate defending after the interval, with former Gunner Simone Boye Sorensen impressing for the visitors, having played for Arsenal in 2021-22, the season the two clubs met twice in the Champions League group stage, with Arsenal winning 5-1 in Denmark, before a 3-0 win at Meadow Park.
As the home side dominated, Maanum lifted her effort high over the bar on the hour mark as Slegers side hunted an opener. The redoubtable Vignum parrying Lisa Baum’s 66th minute shot. Such was the pressure exerted, with 20 minutes remaining Arsenal had already notched 15 shots on target, to the visitors single effort.
As the clock ticked down Smilla Holmberg clipped the bar with her corner with 10 minutes remaining, prior to Leah Williamson shot over the woodwork.
However, Arsenal persistence was to tell eventually when a late mistake from defender Yukina Sakabe gifted Slegers side a late spot-kick, which Caldentey stepped up to slot home despite the best efforts of the valiant Vignum in the Danes goal, to seal a hard-fought 1-0 victory, even if the last-gasp defeat was cruel on the visitors.
