Report: Arsenal Women 1-0 HB Koge Women

We won 1-0 at home to HB Koge Women in our first league phase match of the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League at Meadow Park on Tuesday thanks to Mariona Caldentey's late penalty.

TRYING TO FIND A WAY THROUGH

Frida Maanum drifted in from the left and found Chloe Kelly early on, and she shifted it onto her right foot before firing just over the bar from distance.

Smilla Holmberg’s fierce cross from the right then came out to Maanum who connected with it sweetly, but Alberte Vingum leapt to her right to save.

We thought we took the lead in the 13th minute as Kyra Cooney-Cross played a one-two on the left with Caitlin Foord before crossing for Kelly to poke into the bottom right on the outside of her right foot, but it was ruled out by VAR as Stina Blackstenius was judged to be in an offside position in front of the goalkeeper, interfering with play.

Our next chance came approaching the half-hour mark, Kelly’s cross cleared only as far as Maanum who swivelled and hit it into Vingum’s gloves.

Macy Schultz tries her luck from distance, forcing a corner for Koge in a rare sight of goal for the away side, before Cooney-Cross shot just wide of the bottom left corner from 30 yards out.

Another Holmberg corner was headed towards goal by Blackstenius and touched behind for another corner, and Cooney-Cross volleyed over the bar on the brink of half-time.

SHUFFLING THE PACK

We made our first change of the night at half-time with Alessia Russo coming on for Blackstenius.

Moments later, Taylor Hinds had our first chance of the second half, shooting just over from the edge of the area.

With just over half an hour remaining, Lisa Baum and Mariona replaced Foord and Kim Little, before Steph Catley’s inswinging free-kick was tipped onto the roof of the net.

Russo’s cross from the left was curled over first time by Maanum, and Hinds had a shot blocked after turning onto her left foot.

Our next substitution came in the 71st minute when Selina Cerci replaced Maanum, and Olivia Smith came on for Kelly 11 minutes later, prior to a Holmberg corner hitting the bar.

Leah Williamson volleys over the bar from a Holmberg corner with five minutes to go and then, in the 92nd minute, Cerci worked her way into the penalty area with good footwork and was fouled for a spot kick.

Mariona stepped up to take, slotting into the bottom left for a much needed late goal.