Arsenal fight back to draw with Wolfsburg in first leg of Women's Champions League semi-final
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Updated 23/04/2023 at 19:01 GMT
Rafaelle Souza and Stina Blackstenius scored as Arsenal recovered to draw the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg. The German side led 2-0 but the Gunners netted twice to finish the game level. The return leg takes place at the Emirates on May 1. The winner of the semi-final will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the final.
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Arsenal fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final.
The Gunners, who were missing Kim Little and Leah Williamson due to injury, fell 2-0 behind after 24 minutes.
But Rafaelle Souza pulled a goal back before the break and Stina Blackstenius equalised in the second-half.
It was a positive response from Arsenal after a week in which they were beaten 1-0 by Women’s Super League title rivals Manchester United and lost captain Williamson to an ACL injury.
The return leg against Wolfsburg takes place at the Emirates on Monday, May 1.
“We have everything to play for,” said Blackstenius.
“It will be amazing to play in front of 45,000 or more in the crowd. I hope we can give them a really good game. We have a lot to play for.
“To get this 2-2 was really important for us to come into that game with that confidence and belief to go to the final.”
Arsenal will be hoping to make a better start to the second leg than they did in Germany.
Champions League top scorer Ewa Pajor scored her eighth goal in the competition this season as she finished past goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger to give Wolfsburg the lead.
Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir took advantage of a mistake from Souza to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
But Souza made amends as she headed home before half-time to pull Arsenal back into the game.
Arsenal looked improved in the second-half and got the equaliser in the 70th minute when Victoria Pelova crossed for Blackstenius to score.
Wolfsburg pushed for a third but Arsenal held firm.
The winner of the semi-final will face either Chelsea or Barcelona.
Barcelona won the first leg 1-0 on Saturday.
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