Scottish strikes hand Arsenal the advantage
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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Arsenal LFC 3-2 Umeå IK
Two goals in the last 13 minutes from Scottish internationals Kim Little and Julie Fleeting gave the English side the edge versus the two-time winners.
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Turnaround
Jayne Ludlow's early goal for the home side had been quickly cancelled out by Mami Yamaguchi, and Frida Östberg put the Swedish visitors ahead after the break. But Fleeting came off the bench to equalise and her strike was followed up three minutes later by Little, to the delight of the home fans and watching Scotland manager Anna Signeul.
Early goal
When these sides met in the 2007 final an Arsenal goal at the end of the first leg was decisive. This time they scored within 100 seconds. Gemma Davison floated in a free-kick from the left and Ludlow rose highest to head in at the far post.
Equaliser
Umeå's starting attack was without Marta due to a hip injury but they were soon pushing hard for an equaliser. Arsenal goalkeeper Emma Byrne did well to block an opportunist Yamaguchi strike. However, the Japanese midfielder made no mistake on 13 minutes as she turned in Madelaine Edlund's low cross.
Edlund injury
Midway through the half Edlund was taken off on a stretcher and to hospital with concussion, an injury that delayed the game for more than ten minutes. Sofia Jakobsson took her place. In the 15 added minutes, Kelly Smith seemed certain to score when played in by Little but, after rounding goalkeeper Ulla-Karin Rönnlund, skied her effort.
Ludlow close
Not long after the break, Little and Smith again combined to create a great opening; this time the latter played through Jayne Ludlow, but her shot also flew over. Instead it was Umeå's guile that produced a goal. Johanna Rasmussen's corner from the right was cut back to the edge of the box and the waiting Östberg smashed her shot through a sea of Arsenal legs.
Comeback
Home manager Vic Akers responded by introducing Fleeting and she soon struck from close range. Not long after, Arsenal took a leaf of out Umeå's book. Carney's corner came to Little in a similar position to Östberg; the Scotland midfielder's initial effort was blocked from the rebound her shot gave Rönnlund no chance. Umeå coach Andrée Jeglertz threw on Marta, but they will have to wait until Wednesday's second leg for a chance to save their bid for a third European title.