Mariona Caldentey stepped up in stoppage time of the second half to convert a penalty, giving Arsenal a thrilling 1‑0 triumph over Danish outfit HB Køge and kicking off their Champions League campaign at Meadow Park in style. Renee Slegers, the Gunners’ manager, made a bold move by reshuffling her lineup, introducing eight new starters compared with the side that had drawn 1‑1 with Manchester United in the Women's Super League the previous Sunday. The changes paid off when the match appeared destined for a stalemate until the final minutes.
Early on, England forward Chloe Kelly thought she had put Arsenal ahead. She found the back of the net in the first half, but after a VAR review the goal was disallowed. The review showed that Stina Blackstenius, who had been involved in the build‑up, was offside, nullifying Kelly’s effort. Arsenal, which had struggled to create clear‑cut chances throughout the first 90 minutes, finally earned a golden opportunity when Selina Cerci was brought down inside the penalty area.
Caldentey calmly slotted the spot‑kick into the bottom corner, sealing the three points for the visitors. Greek referee Eleni Antoniu had been consulted earlier in the match after Kelly beat goalkeeper Alberte Vingum in the 12th minute, but the decision to chalk the goal off remained after the off‑side call. Later, in the 25th minute, Maanum forced a save, and the game remained largely confined to the visitors’ half. A chance from Macy Schultz ricocheted off the post, while a cross‑shot from Maanum failed to find a teammate, and a subsequent effort from Kyra Cooney‑Cross drifted wide.
The second half began with Blackstenius being substituted for Alessia Russo. Arsenal generated a flurry of chances in what initially looked like a more open, end‑to‑end period.
Smilla Holmberg earned a free‑kick, which Vingum punched away, and Arsenal continued to press, but the finishing touch remained elusive. The home side also squandered several set‑piece opportunities, and Maanum’s attempts kept finding the woodwork.
Holmberg showed alertness when she cleared a dangerous cross from Emelia Øskarsdottir, and later came within inches of a goal when her corner struck the crossbar directly. The deadlock finally broke in the third minute of added time. Yukina Sakabe’s challenge on Cerci resulted in a penalty, and Antoniu pointed to the spot. Caldentey stepped up once more, this time burying the ball past Vingum to clinch the win.
After the match, Arsenal Women’s coach Renee Slegers praised her side on the club’s official website. She highlighted the importance of the three points, the mental resilience the squad had shown in securing late goals, and the dominant phases of play that had not yet been rewarded with a goal. Slegers also emphasized the impact of the five new arrivals who had featured in the game, noting how Selina Cerci earned the penalty and María Caldentey converted it.
She expressed pride in the collective effort and the way each player contributed to the result. In a separate fixture, Manchester City’s women’s team staged a dramatic comeback against Bayern Munich, turning a 2‑0 deficit into a 2‑2 draw and becoming the first English side to avoid defeat to the German giants in European competition.
City’s German international Carlotta Wamser finally found the back of the net in the 86th minute, scoring her first goal for the club after Khadija "Bunny" Shaw had earlier missed a penalty that could have levelled the score. The visitors had been thoroughly dominated in the first half, conceding two goals before the break, but a late surge saw them claw back a point. Bayern took an early lead, with Giulia Gwinn’s chipped ball over Ayaka Yamashita opening the scoring in the 11th minute after a swift run by Linda Dallmann.
Klara Bühl and Pernille Harder both threatened the City goal, but City’s defense held firm. Just before halftime, Beth Mead capitalised on a cross from Kerstin Casparij, tapping the ball in to make it 2‑0 for the hosts.
Controversy flared when a flare was thrown onto the pitch as the attack unfolded, but the referee allowed play to continue. Casparij’s cross reached Mead despite the disturbance, and the goal stood.
In the second half, City’s fortunes shifted. A mis‑judged decision by Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic—who appeared indecisive before deliberately bringing down City winger Aoba Fujino—resulted in a penalty that Shaw missed, prompting an immediate substitution. However, Wamser’s late strike restored parity. City also benefited from a defensive error when Harder’s cross was mishandled by Casparij, who inadvertently redirected the ball into her own net, reducing Bayern’s lead to one.
The English side continued to press, with Lauren Hemp’s deflected cross striking the crossbar, and the team’s persistence eventually paid off. Midfielder Sam Coffey reflected on the match for the club’s website, noting how Beth Mead’s goal before the break changed the momentum and how City’s improved connectivity and forward play in the second half helped them mount a comeback. Coffey expressed disappointment at not securing a win but praised the team’s resilience in securing a draw in a challenging environment.
She also highlighted the depth of the squad, pointing out that the abundance of game‑changing players means that any substitute can have a meaningful impact—a quality she believes is essential for world‑class teams. Both matches underscored the growing competitiveness of women’s football in Europe, with Arsenal demonstrating tactical adaptability and late‑game composure, while Manchester City showcased determination and depth to earn a historic point against a traditionally dominant Bayern side.