Alessia Russo makes history with hat-trick as Arsenal claim much-needed Champions League win
Arsenal 3-0 Benfica: Russo eased the pressure on Renee Slegers on her way to becoming the leading English scorer in competition history
Alessia Russo set a new Champions League goals record for an English player by scoring a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Benfica at Meadow Park.
Russo fired the Gunners into a half-time lead to equal Fran Kirby’s previous record of 21 and after heading them 2-0 up midway through the second period, she took her tally in the competition to 23 by converting a penalty.
Arsenal, 10 points behind Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea, let slip a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Paris FC in their previous Champions League tie in September, having beaten HB Koge 1-0 in their opener.
Benfica followed up their 2-1 opening matchday win at Juventus with a 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich.
Gunners boss Renee Slegers handed first Arsenal starts to Elisa De Almeida and Geraldine Reuteler, with the latter foiled by Benfica goalkeeper Lena Pauels as the forward looked to pounce on a rebound.
That was one of a string of chances Arsenal created in the first half. Russo saw her header tipped away and curled a first-time shot wide before Olivia Smith’s effort from Ona Batlle’s cross was also well saved.
Russo broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, taking a neat first touch from Caitlin Foord’s pass and firing a low shot in off the far post to equal Kirby’s English record.
Benfica’s best chance before the break fell to Froya Dorsin, whose 35-yard effort after spotting Arsenal goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez off her line cleared the crossbar.
Foord was thwarted by Catarina Amado’s last-ditch tackle as she ran clear soon after the restart and Reuteler’s effort, after rounding the goalkeeper, was cleared off the line by Diana Gomes.
Pauels turned away Smith’s thumping effort with a flying save, but was sent the wrong way when Russo completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 79th minute following Amado’s challenge on Foord.
Second-half goals from Ellie Carpenter and Kadeisha Buchanan made sure Chelsea maintained their strong start to this year’s Women’s Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Roma at Plough Lane.
Substitute Carpenter combined with Wieke Kaptein for the 51st minute goal which broke Roma’s resistance at Plough Lane.
And central defender Buchanan wrapped up the win in the 89th minute, ensuring a second win in three European matches for Sonia Bompastor’s unbeaten team.
