Caitlin Foord has shone once more for Arsenal on the European stage as they beat OL Lyonnes 2-1 in the home leg of their Champions League semi-final, still looking well set to successfully defend their title.
Three Matildas featured in Arsenal’s triumph last season, with Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross all playing key roles in their triumph over Barcelona on Lisbon.
But even without the injured Catley and absent Cooney-Cross, who has returned home to be with her ill mother, Foord ensured the Aussie influence was maintained on Sunday as she offered up a typically lively display in the Gunners’ comeback triumph.
Foord created several chances but couldn’t add the finishing touches as Arsenal’s comeback from a first-half goal stemmed, ultimately, from two pieces of shocking defending from the eight-time champions.
Trailing to a 19th-minute goal from Jule Brand, Arsenal, who’d beaten the French giants at the same stage of last season’s competition, levelled just before the hour thanks to an own goal from Norwegian centre-back Ingrid Engen.
Caitlin Foord impressed for Arsenal at the Emirates. (Getty Images: Arsenal FC/Alex Burstow)
Then, with seven minutes remaining, Canadian Olivia Smith pounced on a mix-up between Engen and dithering Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler to slot the ball into an empty net and give the Londoners a narrow advantage to take into next week’s second leg.
It was an afternoon to forget for Endler, who had earlier been responsible for the opener when she made a complete hash of Mariona Caldentey’s low free kick, letting it slip through her grasp before Engen bundled it into her own net when desperately trying to clear.
Foord will look back on her 39th-minute header that just whizzed past the far post as her best chance to underline Arsenal’s supremacy.
The Gunners also felt they should have been given a penalty in the 51st minute when Kim Little was sent tumbling under a challenge from Wendie Renard.
After a long look at the pitchside monitor, the referee ruled there had been a slight touch on the ball from the Lyonnes captain and overturned the decision.
In Saturday’s other semi-final, Bayern Munich had held visiting Barcelona to a 1-1 draw, Ewa Pajor giving the Spaniards an early lead and defender Franziska Kett equalising in the second half before being sent off for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair.
Kerr fires for Chelsea in WSL title chase
Sam Kerr equalled Fran Kirby’s goalscoring record for Chelsea. (Getty Images: Chelsea FC/Harriet Lander)
Domestically, Sam Kerr demonstrated why Chelsea need to keep her on their books after the Matildas skipper netted a record-equalling brace that kept their distant Women’s Super League title hopes flickering.
Kerr’s future at the club where she’s become a legend has been clouded in doubt amid reports that the 32-year-old could be on her way to the US next season, suggestions that she’s so far shot down.
But Kerr reminded everyone of her enduring quality on Sunday as she scored twice in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory at Everton, becoming the club’s joint all-time top WSL scorer alongside her old strike partner Fran Kirby, with strikes number 62 and 63.
“Even to be in the same conversation as someone like Fran is amazing. She’s a legend of this club and a legend of the game,” Kerr said.
The victory ensures Chelsea clings to the tails of runaway leaders Manchester City, who slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat at Aussie manager Dario Vidosic’s Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Still overwhelming favourites to win a first league title since 2016, City, with Kerr’s Matildas teammate Mary Fowler on board, are top on 49 points, six ahead of Chelsea with two games left to play and with a superior goal difference.
But Arsenal still threaten to punish any slip-ups as they have 38 points and three games in hand over the top two.
Kerr was on target early in each half as Chelsea, who’ve won the last six league titles in a row, eased away to victory over Clare Wheeler’s Everton.
Both came from penetrative and perfectly timed runs, the first a calm right-footed finish from Erin Cuthbert’s through ball after just six minutes, and the second a left-footed slide rule effort from Lauren James’ inch-perfect delivery just after the break.
Kerr’s Matildas teammate Ellie Carpenter also got on the scoresheet in the 53rd minute after a move started by Kerr, while Cuthbert finished the job for Chelsea with their fourth.
It could even have been better for Kerr who may have been deprived of a hat-trick when her header appeared to hit the post and trickle over the line, but the goal wasn’t given.
“I think it was over, but they can’t get them all right. At least we won,” Kerr said.
Manager Sonia Bompastor made it clear that she wants to keep her Australian totem on board.
“Sam deserves what’s happening to her,” said the Frenchwoman.
“She’s a great player, she’s a great person as well — her performance today proved again today she’s one of the best of the world.
“I enjoy working with her; she’s really on board, she wants to learn, she wants to be on the pitch and help the team. She’s a good team player and having a player like her makes a big difference for the manager.”
AAP