Arsenal cruised into the Women’s Champions League group stages via a comfortable 4-1 comeback aggregate win over Hacken.
Jonas Eidevall’s side were trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Sweden but turned the tie on its head in the second half thanks to goals from Lia Walti and a first for summer signing Mariona Caldentey.
Midway through the first half, Walti’s long-range effort was tipped onto the bar by Hacken goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, but the shot crashed into the net off the back of the shot stopper.
Then five minutes before half-time, a breakaway involving Alessia Russo and Beth Mead saw the ball fall to Caldentey at the back post, who found the net via a deflected effort that spooned up over the line.
Arsenal then stamped their authority on the game thanks to a lovely goal from Mead, who flicked the ball over a Hacken defender and crashed a volley into the far corner just moments after half-time.
Arsenal celebrate Beth Mead’s goal to put them 3-0 up
And with just over 10 minutes to go, three Arsenal substitutes combined as Kyra Cooney-Cross fed Caitlin Foord on the left of the box, with the Australian teeing up Frida Maanum to tuck home a fourth with a fine first-time finish.
The Gunners had to be grateful to goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger who made some strong second-half saves, including an impressive one from Hacken striker Clarissa Larisey to keep them ahead, but Arsenal ended up joining Chelsea, Manchester City and Celtic in Friday’s Champions League group stage draw with relative ease.
Man City through via eight-goal aggregate win
Chloe Kelly gave Man City an early lead on the night
Man City cruised through with a 3-0 win over Paris sealing an 8-0 aggregate win, with Gareth Taylor able to rest many of his senior players in the second half.
His side needed only two minutes to take the lead in windy conditions in east Manchester, with Khadija Shaw charging down Paris goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnodizie before teeing up Chloe Kelly to apply the finish.
Kelly then saw her shot palmed onto the angle of the post and crossbar before Shaw added a second in the 31st minute, with Kelly cutting the ball back from the byline.
Bunny Shaw scored twice, including one from the spot
Clara Mateo hit the post for Paris late in the half but Shaw finished things off from the penalty spot in the second half after being tripped in the box.
When are the Champions League group stages?
The draw for the Women’s Champions League group stages takes place on Friday September 27 in Nyon.
Here are the dates for the fixtures:
Matchday 1: 8/9 October
Matchday 2: 16/17 October
Matchday 3: 12/13 November
Matchday 4: 20/21 November
Matchday 5: 11/12 December
Matchday 6: 17/18 December
