Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley returned to club action for Arsenal for the first time since the Women’s World Cup, with the former scoring but they missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification.
Arsenal, who finished third in the English Women’s Super League last season and made the Champions League semis, were involved in UCL qualifying over the past week, beating Swedish club Linkoping 3-0 on Wednesday.
Foord netted the Gunners’ opening goal in that game, breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a header after Kim Little’s crafty footwork and dinked pass across goal. Foord put in a full shift down the left flank while Steph Catley returned as a 60th minute substitute.
Catley returned to the starting line-up with Arsenal back in action on Saturday against French third-placers Paris FC but lost 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Foord and Catley both started although neither took a spotkick having been replaced earlier in the game. Foord played 59 minutes and Catley got through 109 minutes.
Next up the Women’s Super League starts on October 1.
Ellie Carpenter was also back in action at club level for the first time since the World Cup, playing her part as Olympique Lyon lifted more silverware in France.
Carpenter started and played 87 minutes at right-back for Lyon as they beat PSG 2-0 in France’s Trophee des Championnes Feminin.
The new French Feminine Division campaign starts next Friday, with champions Lyon away to Le Havre.
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Larissa Crummer got on the scoresheet as Norwegian champions Brann progressed to the qualifying second round with a 3-0 win over Belgian champions Anderlecht on Saturday.
The 33-time Matilda netted on a counter-attack with Amalie Eikeland releasing her in one-on-one, with Crummer showing composure to convert for 2-0.
Crummer had been a 52nd minute substitute as Brann overcame Bulgarian champions Lokomotiv Stara Zagora 5-0 in midweek.
28. min: MÅÅÅL!!! Larissa Crummer kommer alene med keeper og dobler ledelsen 😍
⚫️0–2🔥
— SK Brann Kvinner (@skbrannkvinner) September 9, 2023
