Olivia Smith’s stunning solo attack and Stina Braxstenius’ dramatic late winner gave Arsenal a 2-1 win over Liverpool, lifting them into third place in the Women’s Super League.
Smith took the lead midway through the first half with a moment of pure brilliance, leaping over three Liverpool players and firing an unstoppable 25-yard strike past Faye Kirby.
Arsenal dominated in the early stages and almost doubled their advantage when Lotte Uben-Moy’s header hit the crossbar, but Liverpool gradually fell behind.
Against the run of play, the visitors equalized just after the half-hour mark when Beata Olsson drifted into space from the center of the box and calmly slotted a left-footed goal past Arsenal keeper Anneke Borbe.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Arsenal gaining a lot of possession and territory but struggling to convert their advantage into clear-cut chances.
And just when it looked like the points would be shared, Blaxstenius hit a dramatic shot in the 87th minute. He timed his run perfectly and then spun around to fire a stunning half-volley into the top corner.
Despite coming under pressure late on from Liverpool, Arsenal remained calm and fought through the final moments to secure another important victory at home.
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A fantastic goal from Stina Blackstenius gave Arsenal the lead late against Liverpool.
Liverpool leaves after regretting heartbreak in later years
Liverpool will feel this was a brutal defeat. Withstanding intense pressure early on, Olsson’s equalizing goal took them back into the fight and looked like they could earn a valuable point.
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Beata Olsson took advantage of Arsenal’s loose pass to equalize for Arsenal.
Kirby was outstanding in goal, making a series of important saves, while the defense withstood sustained Arsenal pressure.
The visiting side continued to threaten on the counter and defended with discipline until Braxstenius’ late intervention finally broke the resistance.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, this was a performance full of resilience and character, even if it ultimately didn’t pay off.
Control with the final touch – Arsenal reap the rewards
Sky Sports’ Sam Cohen provides the following analysis:
Arsenal dominated most of the match, particularly in the first half, where they dominated Liverpool with their tempo and movement.
Smith’s opening goal was a real quality moment. Liverpool’s equalizer briefly disrupted the hosts’ rhythm, but Arsenal continued to apply sustained pressure after the break.
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Olivia Smith’s stunning strike puts Arsenal 1-0 up against Liverpool.
The introductions of Kim Little, Katie McCabe and Blaksteinias swung the momentum further in Arsenal’s favor, and in the end the winners were won by players brought on to provide the cutting edge.
In the end, Arsenal’s tenacity and quality in crucial moments proved the difference.
