Paris FC 2-2 Arsenal: Williamson was deemed to have handled a goal kick from Misa Rodriguez as the visitors let two points slip
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Leah Williamson was made to pay after a mix-up over a goal kick
Leah Williamson was made to pay after a mix-up over a goal kick (Getty)
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Leah Williamson put her hand on the ball from a goal kick to hand Paris FC a controversial late penalty as Arsenal let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 in the Women’s Champions League.
Under-fire boss Renee Slegers looked set to toast a second consecutive win in the competition when England duo Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway scored either side of half-time.
Clara Mateo reduced the deficit with 18 minutes left before Williamson was contentiously penalised for handball inside the area when she had been under the impression the game had not restarted. It resulted in a spot-kick for Paris, which Maeline Mendy scored to ensure a share of the spoils.
Slegers faced criticism after Arsenal lost 1-0 at rivals Chelsea on Sunday, with eyebrows raised at her decision to take off Stanway and Lisa Baum but both started in Paris along with the visitors’ misfiring forward line.
Misa Rodriguez was handed an opportunity in goal and made an early routine save before down the other end Emily Fox had an effort blocked.
A similar pattern emerged for Arsenal with plenty of domination but limited chances and Paris almost broke the deadlock but Aurelie Reynders squandered a dangerous opening.
Russo headed wide soon after but the England forward made no mistake next time to open her account for the campaign.
After Russo exchanged passes with Kim Little, the Arsenal forward made space and rifled into the bottom corner in the 41st minute.
Five minutes after half time Slegers’ side were in cruise control when Stanway scored her first goal for Arsenal.
Stanway reacted quickest from Fox’s cross and fired home on the half volley to ensure Arsenal scored more than once for the first time this season.
Any hopes of a comfortable finish went out the window when Mateo made it 2-1 in the 72nd minute with a slick finish after she rounded Rodriguez.
Disaster then struck with three minutes left when Rodriguez passed the ball to England captain Williamson, who put her hand on the ball to seemingly re-adjust and take it herself but referee Iuliana Demetrescu deemed play to have resumed and pointed to the spot.
Mendy made no mistake from 12 yards and Slegers could only reflect on a big missed opportunity for out-of-form Arsenal.
PA