Arsenal have secured qualification for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League despite slumping to a 4-1 defeat to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion this evening.
The hosts had to win by five or more goals to beat The Gunners to qualification and they pushed the Barclays FA Women’s Super League side close despite the huge deficit that they had to overturn.
Arsenal started the game brightly with Vivianne Miedema heading a chance just wide before Beth Mead and Kim Little tested home keeper Martina Tufekovic. Miedema then spurned another good opportunity before Hoffenheim opened the scoring after Gia Corley superbly played in Jule Brand who fired the ball home.
Tufekovic then blocked a Little shot before Arsenal levelled matters when Laura Wienroither put through her own net when under pressure from Mana Iwabuchi.
The first half Arsenal performance felt flat at times and the start to the second half saw them further deflated. After Brand went close, Chantal Hagel netted two goals in three minutes as Hoffenheim carved The Gunners open and capitalised on some sloppy play. Corley then headed home to make it 4-1 to the hosts with more than half an hour remaining on the clock.
Hoffenheim pushed forward for further goals without really testing Arsenal keeper Lydia Williams. Their attacking play opened things up for The Gunners at the other end but Tufekovic again came out on top when she denied Miedema what seemed like a certain goal.
The draw for the quarter-finals is scheduled to be conducted by UEFA on Monday 20 December 2021.
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