In a breathtaking display of resilience, Arsenal Women kicked off their Women's Champions League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against a determined Benfica side at the Estádio da Luz.
Portuguese Pressure Pays Off Early
The home side started brightly, putting Arsenal under immediate pressure in front of their passionate supporters. Benfica's dominance was rewarded in the 23rd minute when Marie-Alice Yaha capitalised on defensive uncertainty to fire the Portuguese champions into a deserved lead.
Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first half, with Benfica's organised defence and quick transitions causing constant problems for Jonas Eidevall's side.
Gunners Fight Back in Second Half Revival
Whatever Eidevall said at halftime clearly worked wonders. Arsenal emerged with renewed purpose and intensity, gradually wresting control from their hosts.
The breakthrough finally came in the 66th minute when Alessia Russo, who had been growing increasingly influential, powered home a header from a perfectly delivered cross to level the scores and silence the Lisbon crowd.
Blackstenius Delivers Dramatic Late Blow
Just as the match appeared destined for a draw, substitute Stina Blackstenius wrote the headlines with a moment of pure drama. In the 89th minute, the Swedish international showed incredible composure to slot home the winner, sending the travelling Arsenal supporters into ecstasy.
The goal completed a remarkable turnaround for the English side, who showed tremendous character to recover from a difficult first-half performance.
What This Means for Both Sides
This victory provides Arsenal with the perfect start to their Group B campaign, securing three vital away points that could prove crucial in the battle for qualification. For Benfica, it's a heartbreaking defeat after such a promising start, leaving them with plenty to reflect on despite their impressive performance for large periods.
The result demonstrates Arsenal's growing maturity in European competition and sets them up perfectly for their next Champions League challenge.
