Caitlin Foord’s stunning four-goal performance propelled Arsenal to a resounding 6-0 victory over Rangers in the Champions League qualifying match, setting the stage for a showdown with Rosenborg. Alessia Russo and Kim Little also contributed to the scoreline for Jonas Eidevall’s squad, who will face the Norwegian club on Saturday, aiming for a place in the second round of qualifying.
Arsenal dominated the early stages at Meadow Park, controlling possession effectively. Foord opened the scoring with a well-placed header from Mariona Caldentey’s cross, marking a strong debut for Caldentey with an assist. The Gunners delivered a near-perfect first half, with only the inability to extend their lead being a concern.
Despite Rangers showing promise at the start of the second half, Arsenal quickly reasserted their dominance. Foord netted her second goal just before the hour mark, followed shortly by Russo’s strike that made it 3-0. A quick succession of goals followed, with Foord completing her hat-trick with a spectacular volley.
Little’s stellar performance was capped off with a penalty goal, bringing the score to 5-0 before Foord seized another opportunity to close the match with a sixth goal. The match showcased Arsenal’s superiority, as they overwhelmed their opponents.
Rangers’ coach Jo Potter expressed her desire to challenge her players against top-tier teams. The match statistics reflected Arsenal’s dominance, registering six goals, 26 attempts, and 11 shots on target, while Rangers failed to record a single attempt on target.
In other Champions League action, Saoirse Noonan made headlines for her hat-trick, leading Celtic to a 3-1 victory against KuPS of Finland after extra time. However, Glentoran fell to a 3-2 defeat against NS Mura, and Cardiff was beaten 7-0 by Dutch club Twente.
Looking ahead, Arsenal’s next challenge is against Rosenborg on Saturday night at 7:30 PM, as they aim to advance in Europe’s premier club competition. Following that, they will kick off the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season against Manchester City on September 22 at 12:30 PM, marking the beginning of their campaign at the Emirates Stadium, which will serve as their new main home.
