OH Leuven 0 Arsenal 4
Katie McCabe of Arsenal applauds the fans after their win over OH Leuven in Belgium. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Katie McCabe of Arsenal applauds the fans after their win over OH Leuven in Belgium. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Online Editors
Today at 22:49
Katie McCabe’s Arsenal all but booked their place in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, and a tantalising showdown with London rivals Chelsea, after cruising to a 4-0 victory away to OH Leuven in their play-off first leg.
The holders were dominant from the outset in Belgium, with Frida Maanum striking in each half and further goals from Olivia Smith and substitute Alessia Russo putting the tie firmly out of Leuven’s reach.
Having raced into a two-goal lead when the sides met on the final day of the league phase in December, Arsenal again wasted little time asserting themselves. Maanum opened the scoring on 22 minutes, glancing a clever header into the bottom corner from Caitlin Foord’s inviting delivery.
Smith, fresh from a match-winning display against Manchester City at the weekend, doubled the advantage before the half-hour. The forward ghosted away from her marker to meet Chloe Kelly’s low cross, finishing first time to make it two goals in three days.
Both Maanum and Smith passed up further chances before the interval, but any lingering doubt was removed seven minutes after the restart. Once again Foord was the provider, her cross swept home by Maanum with a composed side-footed finish.
Russo added gloss to the scoreline on the hour, reacting quickest after Leuven goalkeeper Lowiese Seynhaeve failed to deal with Smilla Holmberg’s cross, the England international rifling home from close range.
Leuven had hoped to threaten on the counter by exploiting Arsenal’s high defensive line, but clear-cut chances were scarce. Alixe Bosteel’s long-range strike, tipped over by Daphne van Domselaar, proved their best opening.
Smith was booked late on for time-wasting and will miss the return leg through suspension, shortly before being replaced by Kim Little, who marked her 400th appearance for the club.
It was a notable night for Arsenal, who had failed to win the first leg in each of their previous eight Champions League knockout ties. Renée Slegers’ side now carry a commanding advantage into next week’s second leg in London, with Chelsea waiting in the quarter-finals for the aggregate winners.