Arsenal Women vs OH Leuven second half live: Russo gets Arsenal's third, 3-1

The Gunners are four goals up on aggregate after a brilliant away display last week




Live BLog Wednesday Feb 18th

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

  1. Izzy Gilligan: 21:52 #11342

    Thank you for tuning into the live blog

  2. Izzy Gilligan: 21:52 #11341

    It's a brace for Alessia Russo and a penalty from Mariona Caldentey that sealed the deal for the Gunners tonight as they saw off an improved OH Leuven side 3-1 (7-1 agg)

  3. Izzy Gilligan: 21:51 #11340

    Full-time, the Gunners are through to the UWCL quarter finals after beating OH Leuven 7-1 over two legs. They will not have to travel as far for the quarters as they will face London rivals Chelsea

  4. Izzy Gilligan: 21:50 #11338

    Full time: Arsenal 3-1 OH Leuven

  5. Izzy Gilligan: 21:50 #11337

    92' Leuven will be disappointed with conceding a late goal like that, but they have certainly had an exciting and valuable debut campaign in the UWCL, even if it has ended with three games against the holders

  6. Izzy Gilligan: 21:49 #11336

    92' Three minutes of added time being played out here

  7. Izzy Gilligan: 21:48 #11335

    91' Russo takes the ball from Hinds in the middle of the box, holds onto it well and strikes on the turn, another great off-balance finish, 3-1 (7-1 agg)

  8. Izzy Gilligan: 21:47 #11334

    GOAL!!! Russo has her second

  9. Izzy Gilligan: 21:46 #11333

    89' Leuven are still searching for something here, they'll be pleased with their performance as they have challenged Arsenal in certain areas and have produced much more threat than in their last two meetings

  10. Izzy Gilligan: 21:43 #11332

    86' Arsenal come forwards again through Caitlin Foord who has had another good game

  11. Izzy Gilligan: 21:42 #11331

    84' Arsenal just needing to see this out now for the last five minutes or so, the supporters sound in fine voice as they look ahead to a quarter final clash with Chelsea

  12. Izzy Gilligan: 21:39 #11329

    82' Arsenal have changed all four of their backline this evening, the bench thin on the ground in other positions

  13. Izzy Gilligan: 21:39 #11328

    82' Katie McCabe makes way as Taylor Hinds comes on, returning from a spell on the sidelines

  14. Izzy Gilligan: 21:38 #11327

    81' Leuven win another corner as their quest for an equaliser continues. This is the best they have played out of their three meetings with Arsenal in this competition this season

  15. Izzy Gilligan: 21:37 #11326

    80' Leuven have won a corner as we head into the final ten minutes of normal time (2-1)

  16. Izzy Gilligan: 21:36 #11325

    78' McCabe's corner delivery goes very long, Williamson manages to chase and stop it going out of play and now Arsenal are working the ball around the box

  17. Izzy Gilligan: 21:35 #11323

    78' Arsenal corner

  18. Izzy Gilligan: 21:34 #11322

    77' Foord works a great ball across to the back post and Russo is close to it, but is unable to make contact

  19. Izzy Gilligan: 21:34 #11321

    76' Fun fact: Mariona Caldentey's penalty sees her move to joint-second on the list of all time Spanish scorers in a UEFA competition. Putellas leads on 28, followed by Bonmati, Hermoso, and Caldentey all on 26

  20. Izzy Gilligan: 21:32 #11319

    75' More subs for Arsenal, Lotte Wubben-Moy makes way for Leah Williamson, and Codina comes off for Steph Catley

  21. Izzy Gilligan: 21:31 #11318

    74' Arsenal have looked more in control since the substitutes came on, fewer sloppy moments

  22. Izzy Gilligan: 21:28 #11317

    70' It's a great corner delivery from McCabe which finds Wubben-Moy, but her header, similarly to Russo's in the last corner, goes over the bar despite being so close to the goal

  23. Izzy Gilligan: 21:27 #11316

    69' Another chance for Arsenal! Seynhaeve makes another great save, denying Caitlin Foord's strike

  24. Izzy Gilligan: 21:26 #11315

    69' McCabe delivers a nice corner, but Russo's header goes up and over the bar

  25. Izzy Gilligan: 21:25 #11314

    68' Chance for Arsenal! Maanum threads a great ball to Russo who gets her shot off, but the glove of Seynhaeve deflects her effort

  26. Izzy Gilligan: 21:23 #11311

    65' Arsenal 2-1 OH Leuven (6-1 agg), Caldentey's penalty puts the Gunners back in front

  27. Izzy Gilligan: 21:22 #11310

    65' GOAL! Caldentey! The Spaniard calmly slots her penalty home, sending it into the bottom right corner

  28. Izzy Gilligan: 21:22 #11309

    64' Mariona Caldentey is standing over the penalty spot as we wait for VAR to confirm or deny the penalty

  29. Izzy Gilligan: 21:21 #11308

    64' The challenge on Caitlin Foord in the box is deemed enough for a penalty by the referee. It will be checked by VAR

  30. Izzy Gilligan: 21:21 #11307

    Penalty awarded! Arsenal

  31. Izzy Gilligan: 21:20 #11306

    63' It's not been long, but Kim Little has steadied the ship in the middle here, an ever calm presence for Arsenal

  32. Izzy Gilligan: 21:18 #11305

    61' Two subs for Leuven, Hermans makes way for De Ceuster, and Conijnenberg comes off for Kuijpers

  33. Izzy Gilligan: 21:17 #11304

    60' Holmberg makes way for Emily Fox in a like for like change at right back

  34. Izzy Gilligan: 21:16 #11302

    59' Kim Little is Arsenal's first sub of the evening, coming on for her 401st Arsenal appearance to take the place of Chloe Kelly

  35. Izzy Gilligan: 21:16 #11301

    58' Play is stopped as Reynders recieves medical attention

  36. Izzy Gilligan: 21:13 #11300

    55' Leuven are looking more confident here, the damage may have been done last week in Belgium, but tonight, Arsenal do not look like themselves as their sloppy play continues

  37. Izzy Gilligan: 21:11 #11297

    54' Leuven win a corner to be taken by Boatels

  38. Izzy Gilligan: 21:09 #11296

    51' Foord delivers a great ball across the box, and Holmberg gets on the end of it, but her effort is stopped by Seynhaeve (1-1)

  39. Izzy Gilligan: 21:06 #11295

    48' Mertens (Leuven) is recieving treatment for an injury, and so as play continues, Arsenal are a player up

  40. Izzy Gilligan: 21:04 #11294

    47' Arsenal had some sloppy moments in that first half, especially towards the end, Slegers will want them to come out and play closer to their usual standards here to not let the tie slip

  41. Izzy Gilligan: 21:03 #11293

    46' Second half is underway

  42. Izzy Gilligan: 21:01 #11292

    The teams are back out, ready for the second half

  43. Izzy Gilligan: 20:59 #11291

    That first half was a great example of why the Champions League is exciting. Leuven, the debutants, may be very behind across the two legs, but in tonight's game, they're very much in it, taking it to the holders, Arsenal, especially on the counter attack

  44. Izzy Gilligan: 20:48 #11289

    Half time: Arsenal 1-1 OH Leuven (5-1 agg), Russo's effort put the Gunners ahead before Pusztai equalised

  45. Izzy Gilligan: 20:47 #11288

    45' just one minute of stoppage time added on

  46. Izzy Gilligan: 20:46 #11287

    45' Holmberg wins a corner as her ball in/effort is blocked and sent out the back

  47. Izzy Gilligan: 20:45 #11286

    44' The ball is with van Domselaar as Arsenal try and calm things down and play out from the back

  48. Izzy Gilligan: 20:45 #11284

    44' Everaerts fires her effort high over the bar for Leuven

  49. Izzy Gilligan: 20:44 #11283

    43' The score remains 1-1 in this tie, with both sides struggling a bit under the tough, rainy conditions. Arsenal have made some sloppy passes in the lead up to half time and Leuven are hungry for goals

  50. Izzy Gilligan: 20:41 #11281

    40' Here comes Leuven again after the ball is once more given away cheaply by Arsenal, can't tell if its the conditions or a lack of concentration

  51. Izzy Gilligan: 20:39 #11280

    37' It seems to be the counterattack where Arsenal are the most vulnerable. Leuven have found success going forwards and getting balls in behind the Arsenal backline

  52. Izzy Gilligan: 20:38 #11279

    36' SAVE! Van Domselaar easily gets to Pusztai's effort and claims it

  53. Izzy Gilligan: 20:34 #11277

    33' McCabe's corner finds Pelova who's strike is blocked. The block comes nicely to Holmberg who hits it way over the bar (1-1)

  54. Izzy Gilligan: 20:33 #11275

    32' Arsenal have a corner on the right, it'll be delivered by McCabe

  55. Izzy Gilligan: 20:32 #11274

    Goal for Leuven - the offside call is overturned after a VAR check and Leuven have an equaliser making it 1-1 in tonight's game (5-1 aggregate)

  56. Izzy Gilligan: 20:31 #11272

    29' There is a VAR check going on. Commentary think Russo could be playing Leuven onside, let's see how this turns out

  57. Izzy Gilligan: 20:30 #11271

    29' Leuven think they have the equaliser but the referee calls it offside so it remains Arsenal 1-0 Leuven

  58. Izzy Gilligan: 20:29 #11270

    28' Corner for Leuven, delivered into a good area but dealt with initially by Arsenal

  59. Izzy Gilligan: 20:29 #11269

    28' Arsenal will be able to relax a bit more now, 5 goals up on aggregate is quite comfortable and they'll be able to see that quarter-final in sight

  60. Izzy Gilligan: 20:26 #11268

    24' Russo now has six goals in eight matches, she scored in the reverse leg, and has opened the scoring this evening with her low, left-footed strike. Arsenal 1-0 Leuven (5-0 agg)

  61. Izzy Gilligan: 20:24 #11267

    23' Arsenal go a goal up! Alessia Russo strikes for the Gunners

  62. Izzy Gilligan: 20:24 #11266

    GOAL!!

  63. Izzy Gilligan: 20:22 #11265

    21' Chance for Arsenal! Frida Maanum's header is denied by Seynhaeve. An end-to-end couple of minutes!

  64. Izzy Gilligan: 20:22 #11264

    20' A chance for Leuven on the break! A big save by van Domselaar as a direct ball gets in behind Arsenal's backline and drops for Conijnenberg

  65. Izzy Gilligan: 20:20 #11263

    18' Arsenal just needing to be patient here, they have a nice cushion (4-0 aggregate) but need to relax here even though it's tough in the conditions

  66. Izzy Gilligan: 20:18 #11262

    A reminder that winning this tie sets up a Champions League quarter final against London/WSL rivals Chelsea

  67. Izzy Gilligan: 20:16 #11261

    15' Wubben-Moy intercepts Leuven's ball into the centre of the pitch and turns it over for Arsenal

  68. Izzy Gilligan: 20:14 #11259

    13' Throw in for Arsenal to be taken by Holmberg just in front of the dugouts

  69. Izzy Gilligan: 20:12 #11256

    11' Yellow card for Oh Leuven's Mertens for a late tackle on Mariona Caldentey (0-0)

  70. Izzy Gilligan: 20:11 #11254

    10' Maanum's ball into the box is claimed by Seynhaeve

  71. Izzy Gilligan: 20:10 #11252

    9' Arsenal are moving the ball well in transition and around the box, despite the conditions. no end product yet but some good balls across from the likes of Holmberg

  72. Izzy Gilligan: 20:08 #11250

    7' Holmberg delivers a ball in but there's too much on it for anyone to get the volley. Foord snatches at it but it ends up with Seynhaave

  73. Izzy Gilligan: 20:06 #11249

    4' Both teams are just settling into the game, the conditions of the pitch are not the best. It was played on just 24 hours ago and the rain hasn't helped 0-0

  74. Izzy Gilligan: 20:02 #11248

    1' We're underway!

  75. Izzy Gilligan: 20:01 #11247

    Lotte Wubben-Moy wears the captain's armband this evening for the Gunners as Kim Little and Kim Little are both on the bench

  76. Izzy Gilligan: 19:58 #11246

    The teams are lined up and the Champions League anthem has played, the weather at meadow park is not the best, let's hope the pitch holds up ok

  77. Izzy Gilligan: 19:52 #11245

    With kick off in just under ten minutes, here is the Arsenal starting XI: Van Domselaar, Holmberg, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Pelova, Caldentey, Maanum, Kelly, Foord, Russo

  78. Izzy Gilligan: 19:46 #11244

    Welcome to The Gooner Fanzine's live blog as Arsenal Women host OH Leuven at Meadow Park in the second leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League play-offs.


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.