Oshoala scores a brace against her former club as Barca defeats Arsenal 2-5.

Barcelona defeated English champions Arsenal 2-5 in a pre-season friendly at Meadow Park in Hertfordshire, England yesterday night. Asisat Oshoala scored a brace, while new Barca striker Caroline Graham Hansen provided 3 assists.

Bad start.

Barca dominated possession from the start against a very tight Arsenal defence. The cules had goal scoring opportunities for Oshoala and Alexia, but they were not able to convert their chances. In fact it was the home team that drew first blood via a powerful shot by McCabe in the 36th minute (1-0).

The reaction from Barcelona was instant, and in just one minute, the Lluís Cortés trained girls scored two goals to overturn the scoreline and go to the break with the lead. First Patri Guijarro scored (1-1, minute 44), and later Oshoala scored (1-2, minute 45) after a great assist by Graham Hansen.

Barca kept up the pressure right from the resumption of the game and Oshoala scored again 5 minutes into the second half (1-3, minute 50). Alexia had played a powerful shot at goal which was knocked out by Arsenal’s goalkeeper Zinsberger, but Oshoala fired the rebound into the goal.

Barça’s coach rang the changes and one of the substitutes, Claudia Pina, scored the fourth goal off another great assist by Graham (1-4 minutes 70).

Little scored from the penalty spot for Arsenal(2-4, minute 76), but even so, Barça followed with a counter attack and again Claudia Pina – with another assist from Graham – took advantage of Barca’s passing game to score the final goal (2-5, minute 81).

Details.

Arsenal 2 – 5 Barça

Arsenal: Zinsberger, Veje (Quinn, min. 66), Beattie (Mitchell, min. 66), Williamson, Van de Donk (Schnadebeck, min. 66), Little, Miedema, Roord, McCabe, Maier, Mead

Barça: Paños (Gemma Font, min. 61), Maria León (Melanie, min. 72), Marta Torrejón (Jana Fernández, min. 84), Mariona, Hamraoui (Aitana, min. 46), Alexia (Vicky Losada, min. 60), Patri (Paula G., min. 87), Graham (Arola A., min. 87), A. Pereira (Laia Codina, min. 72), Oshoala (C. Pina, min. 62), Falcón (Leila, min. 60). 

Goals: 1-0, McCabe (min. 36); 1-1, Patri Guijarro (min. 44); 1-2, Oshoala (min. 45); 1-3, Oshoala (min. 50); 1-4, Claudia Pina (min. 70); 2-4, Little (min. 76, p.) i 2-5, Claudia Pina (min. 81).