Arsenal 6-0 Rangers: Foord bags four as Gunners see off Scottish opposition

Under the lights, the Meadow Park faithful were treated to one of Caitlin Foord’s finest performances in an Arsenal shirt as she scored four in Arsenal’s relentless 6-0 win over Rangers in their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying first-round semi-final.

As It Happened

As expected, Arsenal dominated the early possession and earned a few early corners to put pressure on immediately, not allowing the visitors to settle and setting the tone for the rest of what would prove to be a tough night for the Gers.

It didn’t take long for the North London side to be rewarded for their early pressure when in the 15th minute, the debuting Mariona Caldentey floated in a cross from deep that found Caitlin Foord. The Australian beat Rangers goalkeeper Victoria Essen at her near post; an effort that really should’ve been kept out, but it can’t be argued that the lead wasn’t deserved.

Caldentey continued to show what she’ll bring to Jonas Eidevall’s side soon after, as her low drilled ball across the face of goal was set upon by Russo – but Essen managed to smother a dangerous ball. Rangers couldn’t stop the flurry of chances and struggled to find their feet early on against strong opposition.

It was almost déjà vu in the 28th minute as another low drilled ball, this time from Katie McCabe who smartly beat her defender, again reached Foord at the back post who really should’ve finished the chance from a few yards out. A team effort from Essen and centre-back Kathryn Hill, who was the Scottish side’s standout player of the first half, managed to keep it out.

As the half progressed, Rangers failed to keep any sustained possession as Arsenal’s press proved too much. In their short flurries, they put together some nice moves, but poor decision-making allowed Arsenal to get back quickly in numbers and stop any danger.

Despite their dominance, Arsenal were unable to build on their lead and Rangers’ Jo Potter would have been happy going into the break with her side only 1-0 down.

A vintage Kim Little run into the box kicked off the half for Arsenal as she stormed forward with her shot just blocked by Olivia McLoughlin to send it behind for a corner. It was clear from early on that there would be more space for Arsenal to exploit as Rangers searched for an equaliser.

And it didn’t take long for the game to be put to bed as on the brink of the hour mark, the Gunners scored twice in the space of minute to put to bed any hope of a comeback.

Caitlin Foord got her second of the game with a lovely finish after Little weaved beautifully through a group of Rangers defenders, allowing her to play a perfectly weighted ball for the Australian to put home.

Then almost immediately after the restart, Alessia Russo got her goalscoring tally underway for the season by getting free on the edge of the box and firing off an unstoppable shot past Essen to make it 3-0, starting the real party atmosphere at Meadow Park.

The highlight of the game was still yet to come though, as Foord completed an excellent hat-trick in the 68th minute. Katie McCabe drifted inside and launched a crossfield ball towards the back post, which Foord met perfectly and hit with precision into the top corner: a truly superb goal to all but confirm her side would progress through to Saturday’s final.

The rest of the game went as expected, as the home side played the ball around with very little pressure as Rangers seemed to accept their fate. They weren’t done adding to their lead, however. Kim Little got in on the action as she fired home a trademark penalty to make it 5-0, and then in the 90th minute, Foord capped off a wonderful performance with a fourth by pouncing on a rebound from a saved effort from the debuting Rosa Kafaji and slotted it home for her side’s sixth of the night.

Arsenal will now face Rosenborg in the first-round final on Saturday at Meadow Park to decide who will make it through to the second round of qualifying for the Champions League proper.