Vivianne Miedema scored the equalizer to help Arsenal Women produce one of the close football results of the midweek action in the Women’s Champions League. The Gunners, who were playing without a number of players, including injured England forward Beth Mead, fell behind early in the second half when Juventus’ Lineth Beerensteyn put them ahead after a quick counterattack. Just after the hour mark, Vivianne Miedema headed in a corner to tie the score, but Jonas Eidevall’s team was unable to come up with a late victory. Arsenal, who sought to maintain their perfect record, maintains first place in Group C, two points ahead of Juventus and three ahead of Lyon, who defeated Zurich 3-0 on the road.
As Mead is expected to miss a significant amount of time after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s Women’s Super League loss to Manchester United, the Gunners got off to a strong start with Miedema spearheading the assault. Frida Maanum successfully maneuvered Stina Blackstenius, but her rising shot barely cleared the crossbar. After Swedish attacker Blackstenius was sent clear once more just before halftime, Juventus goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, who played for the Gunners for a few seasons, made a superb stop. In stoppage time of the first half, Arianna Caruso shot wide at the other end.
Caitlin Foord, an Australian, tested Peyraud-Magnin early in the second half before Lotte Wubben-header Moy’s was cleared off the line. But in the 51st minute, a counterattacking Dutch attacker named Beerensteyn scored for Juventus, beating Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. Miedema headed in from a corner for Arsenal to reply and tie the score soon after the hour mark. Miedema attempted to score again after the error and nearly did so in stoppage time, but the Juventus defense stood firm.
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