Good Evening, I’m Joseph Rosedon and I will be taking you through this Group C clash between Arsenal and Hoffenheim in the UWCL. Both teams had differing fortunes in their opening matches with Hoffenheim comfortably dispatching Danish outfit HB Køge 5-0 while Arsenal were outclassed by reigning UWCL champions Barcelona 4-1.
Lineups:
Arsenal make two changes from the team that beat Everton 3-0 at the weekend with Jordan Nobbs replacing Mana Iwabuchi in midfield and Beth Mead replacing Nikita Parris in attack
1: Kick Off!
2: Early chance for Hoffenheim. Billa is allowed to turn in the box after a looped ball but fails to convert. Their forwards are looking to win the ball back pressing from the front with both Arsenal centre backs feeling the pressure so far
5: Tobin Heath is already testing the defensive capabilities of the Hoffenheim full back but is yet to have any joy
8: Hoffenheim again cause Arsenal problems with De Caigny firing over from the edge of the box
12: Arsenal so far have tried to open up Hoffenheim with wide play. Both Heath and Mead have seen a decent amount of the ball so far.
14: Lovely sequence of play between Heath and Nobbs results in an Arsenal corner which fell to Maanum who blasts over
16: Beth Mead wins a free kick in a dangerous position for Arsenal. Left back Katie McCabe fires straight at the keeper. Wubben-Moy follows in but fouls the Hoffenheim keeper Tufekovic in the process
19. Arsenal Penalty! Mead gets just in front of Specht who clips the Arsenal forward in the penalty box while attempting to clear the ball
20: Kim Little to Take
21:GOAL! Arsenal: The Arsenal captain slots away comfortably and continues her excellent goal scoring form.
24: Arsenal are starting to take control of this game. Little is picking up pockets of space and is looking to thread the ball to the Arsenal forwards.
30: Tobin Heath finds spaces in the box and moves the ball towards Miedema. Instead of shooting, the Dutch forwards looks to find Little but the ball is intercepted
33: Hoffenheim almost make a calamitous error. A wayward pack bass from the halfway line just dribbles past the goal.
37: Arsenal are almost in but Maanum’s pass aimed for Miedema is cut out by the Hoffenheim defence.
40: Williamson wins the ball back and strides through the midfield. The centre back looks to feed the ball to Heath but the pass lacked quality and drives the American International wide
42: This time Miediema wins the ball back and attempts to open up the Hoffenheim defence but again the final pass is overhit.
45: 2 minuets to be added on at the end of the first half
45+2: GOAL Arsenal! Tobin Heath opens her account for Arsenal and what a well worked goal to do it with. McCabe whips in a cross which is nodded perfectly into Heath’s path from Miedema. The American international slams the ball home to double the home side’s lead.
Half Time: Arsenal 2 Hoffenheim 0. The Gunners will be delighted to double their lead just before the break after struggling to open up Hoffenheim for much of the first half. Hoffenheim will feel that their performance does not warrant the current scoreline. They have, for the most part, defended well but have not really threatened the Arsenal defence since the first 10 minuets of the game.
HT: Hoffenheim substitution: Corley has replaced De Caigny
45: The second half is underway
49: Heath whips in a dangerous ball which is just to high for Mead to reach
50: GOAL! Arsenal: Jordan Nobbs forces an excellent save from Tufekovic from a long rang effort. The rebound falls perfectly for Miedema who taps in from close range. The star forward breaks her three game goalless streak. Arsenal are in complete control
56: Frustration is setting in for Hoffenheim typified by a cynical foul on Beth Mead
60: Arsenal are searching for a forth here. Nobbs is played into space and looks to find Miedema but fails to do so.
62: Maanum is carded for a foul. The subsequent free kick is carefully watched out for an Arsenal goal kick
63: A decent Chance for Hoffenheim: Brand creates space on the wing and the young German finds Linder in the box who heads over
64: First Arsenal substitution of the evening. Beth Mead is replaced by fellow England international Nikita Parris
68: Hagel fires in a low cross in for Hoffenheim which is claimed by Zinsberger in the Arsenal goal
70: Zinsberger makes an importance save to keep the score at 3-0. Brand, who has been Hoffenheim’s best player this evening, deflected cross forced the Arsenal goal keeper into save. From the resulting corner, Hoffenheim again are close to a goal. This time a Hoffenheim header is cleared off the line from McCabe
73: Double substitution from the home side: Miedema and Heath are replaced by the Australian duo of Catley and Foord
75: Hoffenheim, who have been much improved in the last 15 minuets, again almost get their goal. Brand is played in but her shot is matched by Zinsberger
77: Triple Substitution from Hoffenheim. Linder, Dongus and Billa are replaced by Steinert, Harsch and Leimenstoll.
84: Catley finds space on the left hand side but fails to find a teammate
85: Jordan Nobbs, who has had a great game, is replaced by former Hoffenheim midfielder Mana Iwabuchi
86: GOAL! Arsenal. McCabe’s corner is met by Leah Williamson who makes an excellent near post run and heads home.
87: It’s almost five. Parris is played in by Foord and the England international’s effort is tipped wide by Tufekovic
90: 4 minuets added on at the end of the second half
Full Time: Arsenal 4 Hoffenheim 0: The Gunners will be very pleased with this evening performance. Although Hoffenheim did provide some threat throughout the game, the home side were good value for their win.
