ARSENAL CAUGHT OUT BY HACKEN
ARSENAL, with Ireland’s Katie McCabe in their ranks, slipped to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Hacken in their Champions League second round match.
Following a cagey start, the Gunners had two notable first-half chances through former Hacken forward Rosa Kafaji, including a great strike which rattled the crossbar.
Hacken took their chance in the 77th minute when Tabitha Tindell fired them ahead.
So the Swedish side take a slender advantage into the second leg at Meadow Park next week.
Arsenal grew into the game with some neat moves around the box and Jennifer Falk made her first save of the evening when she caught Alessia Russo’s looping header from a corner.
Russo threatened again moments later after making a smart turn from Kyra CooneyCross’s pass through the middle but she could only shoot just wide of the post. The Gunners came close again when Kafaji fired over the bar.
Heavy
Hacken threatened on the break when Clarissa Larisey’s heavy touch was saved by Manuela Zinsberger and the same player had a shot blocked minutes later.
Arsenal’s best chance of the half came in the 33rd minute when Kafaji rattled the crossbar.
Hacken conceded an indirect free early in the second half, but the Gunners were unable to bundle Beth Mead’s low cross home.
They continued to be frustrated when a cross came into an unmarked Mead in the six-yard area but her header smashed off Falk’s face at point-blank range and Russo then had a header easily taken by the goalkeeper.
Hacken found the breakthrough in the 77th minute after Anna Anvegard’s cross-field pass found Tindell on the right flank and she charged forward before coolly slotting the ball past Zinsberger.
Arsenal came close in stoppage time when Falk tipped Frida Maanum’s powerful low effort wide before the Norway star had a header bounce off the bar.