04/01/26 05:04:00
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04/01 17:02 CDT Arsenal fends off Chelsea to reach Women's Champions League
semifinals, Bayern also advances
Arsenal fends off Chelsea to reach Women's Champions League semifinals, Bayern
also advances
By KAREL JANICEK
Associated Press
Defending champion Arsenal advanced to the Women's Champions League semifinals
despite a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in a London derby on Wednesday.
With a 3-1 home victory in the first leg of the quarterfinal last week, Arsenal
reached the last four on a 3-2 aggregate score and will next face either
Wolfsburg or Lyonnes.
Sjoeke Nsken scored for Chelsea from close rage in the fourth minute of
stoppage time at Stamford Bridge.
In the dramatic last few minutes, Veerle Buurman hit the post for Chelsea and
Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar saved a goal-bound header by Nsken.
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor received a red card in the dying seconds of the
match.
The home team was pressuring Arsenal from the start with forward Sam Kerr
particularly posing a threat. Kerr missed the first leg because she was playing
for Australia at the Asian Cup.
Bayern's late comeback
Earlier, Bayern Munich rallied with two late goals in three minutes to beat
Manchester United 2-1 and advance to the semifinals on a 5-3 aggregate score.
Glds Viggsdttir started the rally in the 81st with a header after a corner
kick, and Linda Dallmann fired from inside the area after another corner to
send Bayern to its first semifinal since 2021.
Making its debut in the quarterfinals, United traveled to Germany after losing
to Bayern Munich 3-2 in the opening leg at Old Trafford.
The visitors dominated the first half with Melvine Malard putting them up 1-0
after 11 minutes. The France forward used a blunder by Bayern goalkeeper Ena
Mahmutovic to score into an empty net, and equalize the aggregate score at 3-3.
The German powerhouse applied pressure in the second half, but Manchester's
defense led by American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce held firm until
Viggsdttir struck.
Bayern will face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the last four.
The remaining two quarterfinals are Thursday: Barcelona hosts Real Madrid and
leads 6-2 from the first leg; Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead to Lyon.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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