Arsenal eliminate Linköping on away goals

A long-range effort from Katie Chapman sent Arsenal LFC into the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals on away goals at the expense of Linköpings FC.

Having drawn 1-1 last week, Linköping seemed on course for the last four when Linda Sällström matched her first-leg achievement of opening the scoring early on. Rachel Yankey, five minutes before the break, and substitute Kosovare Asllani, with the hour approaching, traded goals which still left the Swedish side in control until Chapman rifled in a shot that left Sofia Lundgren standing in the hosts' goal.

Arsenal's response to Sällström's 16th-minute opener, a neat finish when one on one with Emma Byrne, was a chance for Ellen White which the striker failed to connect with. Lundgren then snuffed out the looming danger when preventing White from turning provider soon after, but had no answer to Yankey's control and precise finish inside the far post.

Asllani restored Linköping's lead on 57 minutes in somewhat fortuitous fashion, the ball slipping from Byrne's grasp after she seemed to have saved the substitute's initial effort when through on goal. Arsenal threatened via White, with a header, and a Kim Little shot which Lundgren saved, but scored the goal they needed when Chapman let fly from distance with 11 minutes remaining.

A series of late blocks to deny Charlotte Rholin following a corner preserved Arsenal's advantage and ensured the English team of a tie with Olympique Lyonnais. They visit the team that deposed them as champions in the 2007/08 quarter-finals on 9/10 April and a week later Arsenal will stage the home leg hoping to earn a place in the London decider at Craven Cottage.

Little, Arsenal's 20-year-old forward, said: "Obviously we were frustrated in the first half and a bit worried when they went ahead, but I had great confidence in the team. With these players I know that we can score at any time and we made it, just like we did in the last round [against Rayo Vallecano de Madrid]."

Kosovare Asllani, who returned from injury for the game, said: "I was happy to see my shot go in but now it feels worthless since we didn't make it through to the next round. But I am very proud of this young team and we had two good matches." Her team finished outside the top two in Sweden last year so will not be back in Europe next season.