We reached the final of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup by comfortably beating Moroccan side ASFAR 6-0 in the semi-final at Brentford Stadium on Wednesday night.
It took just 21 minutes for us to be 3-0 up by way of goals from Stina Blackstenius, Frida Maanum and a Mariona Caldentey penalty. An Olivia Smith strike then made it four late in the first half.
Alessia Russo smashed in a second-half brace to increase our lead to six.
### FIRST HALF
We were 1-0 up inside eight minutes as Beth Mead’s corner was headed back across goal by Laia Codina and Blackstenius nodded it across the line.
That lead was doubled four minutes later, Smilla Holmberg’s cross touched down by Smith and Maanum turning on it before firing past Khadija Er-Rmichi on the volley.
Taylor Hinds was next to take us forward, crossing for Holmberg at the far post and it was her effort that struck the hand of Zineb Redouani. After a VAR check, the referee awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by Mariona, slotting into the bottom right for 3-0.
We were in no mood to let our foot off the gas, Mead’s corner headed towards the bottom left by Blackstenius moments later, but Hanane Ait El Haj in the right place to clear the danger.
ASFAR had their first sight of goal when we gave the ball away to Sanaa Mssoudy, but she fires wide from the edge of the 18-yard box.
At the other end, Smith’s shot from distance took a deflection and hit the post with Blackstenius firing over on the rebound, before the latter got on the end of a ball over the top from Lotte Wubben-Moy and took a good touch before shooting inches wide of the bottom left.
Smith made it 4-0 with half-time approaching, picking out the bottom left with aplomb after being found by Victoria Pelova.
### SECOND HALF
We made two changes at half-time, Caitlin Foord and Kim Little coming on for Mead and Mariona, and Foord was involved straight away, pulling the ball back for Maanum who curled one straight at the goalkeeper.
The roles reversed as Maanum then found Foord on the left and she cut inside before her curling effort forced a good save.
Heavily influential, Maanum pokes her next effort wide after receiving the ball from Little in a dangerous area.
With just under half an hour left on the clock we made our next two changes, Katie McCabe and Russo coming on for Hinds and Blackstenius.
The latter made an instant impact as, after a Maanum shot was spilled, Russo took a touch and laced it into the back of the net for 5-0.
In the 76th minute, Foord played Russo through and she burst into the box from the left to find the bottom right for 6-0, before Chloe Kelly replaced Smith.
### WHAT’S NEXT
The final (6pm) and third-place play-off (2.45pm) take place at Arsenal Stadium on Sunday and [tickets are now on general sale.](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3796)
Then, we’ll be back in N5 for the visit of Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League at 12pm on Sunday, February 8, which [you can get tickets for as well.](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3718?position=8&_gl=1*wml2k*_gcl_au*MTcwMjkxODk4OS4xNzY3NjE3MzM5*_ga*MTc4OTg5MzIwNC4xNjkyODcxMDg4*_ga_WP53Y0W9VR*czE3Njk2MTU0NTckbzIzOTckZzEkdDE3Njk2MTY0NTkkajUyJGwwJGgw)
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