Russo rounds off Arsenal rout of AS Far in Women’s Champions Cup semi-final | OneFootball

A businesslike performance against AS Far earned Arsenal a place in Sunday’s final of the inaugural Fifa Women’s Champions Cup against Corinthians.

Four goals in the first half – from Stina Blackstenius, Frida Maanum, Mariona Caldentey and Olivia Smith – allowed Renée Slegers to rotate players and rest some legs and the substitute Alessia Russo added two after the break to complete the rout.

“The players dealt so well with the unknown because it’s the first time we played against them,” said the Arsenal manager. “So I’m really happy with that. We are very together at the moment. We’re connected on the pitch. We’re doing things with a lot of discipline.”

Corinthians’ 1-0 defeat of Gotham FC in the first Champions Cup semi-final earlier in the day had provided an upset at Brentford’s Gtech stadium but there was no risk of Africa’s Champions League winners doing the same to their European counterparts – the developmental gulf is just too big.

This was the first time an African women’s club had met a European club in a competitive official match and the Moroccan side were worthy representatives, their qualification for the Champions Cup thanks to a steady development that has led to them winning two Champions League titles in four years.

“Compliments to the opposition,” said Slegers. “Of course, it was a hard game for them tonight, but I think the way they presented themselves and the way they represented football in Morocco and as the champions of Africa, it was very inspirational.

“What they’re doing is inspiring so many people, hopefully so many young girls see the opportunities to play football and that this is possible.”

This was the next step and, regardless of a run of five wins in a row prior to the meeting with England’s most decorated side, they set up accordingly, a back five and four in the ­middle with Sanaa Mssoudy their lone target up front.

Despite that defensive shape, they were quickly undone by their opponents, who opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Blackstenius nodded the ball over the line before it was hooked clear by Aziza Rabbah and goalline technology confirmed it had crossed.

Four minutes later Arsenal had a second via Maanum who converted as she spun round to face goal, the club’s much-changed but still potent and experienced starting XI delivering the efficient performance needed before the final on Sunday and then an important Women’s Super League game against the leaders Manchester City next week.

Ultimately, this is a tournament Arsenal could have done without, at this stage of the season at least, with the pressure about to ramp up when Champions League football restarts in two weeks’ time, but a trophy is a trophy and with a chunk of a £1.7m prize pot available the incentive to take it seriously was there.

The third goal arrived courtesy of a Zineb Redouani handball in the box, picked up by the video assistant referee, and Caldentey converted from the spot before Olivia Smith provided the fourth. Russo entered the fray at the hour mark and two goals within 10 minutes followed soon after.

“Now we’ve earned the right to play in the final, that’s one step closer to being history-makers and that’s what we want to be,” said Slegers. “Full respect to Corinthians and what they did against Gotham, that was very impressive, so it’s going to be a tough game.”

Header image: [Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA]