A bizarre handball call against Leah Williamson in the 87th minute completely wiped out Arsenal’s two-goal lead, forcing a devastating 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League. This wasn’t just a tough break, it left the Gunners reeling with just two wins in their first six matches across all competitions, and their early season struggles are getting harder to ignore.
That 87th Minute Disaster: How It Went Down
Seriously, you won’t believe how this penalty happened. Arsenal was up two goals by the 50th minute, looking like they finally shook off those early-season finishing issues. Clara Mateo pulled one back for Paris FC in the 72nd, but the real shocker came in the 87th. The ball had come to a complete stop, and Arsenal’s keeper, Misa, passed it to center back Leah Williamson. Williamson, thinking it was a goal kick, just picked the ball up to steady it. Ref’s whistle! Handball! Nineteen-year-old Maeline Mendy then calmly buried the penalty, leveling the match.
The Rare Rule That Blew Up Arsenal’s Lead
So, what happened? It’s a rarely called offense, but totally legit. The goal kick procedure states the ball needs to be stationary and kicked. The key here: Misa *kicked* the ball to Williamson, not rolled it. Once kicked and clearly moved, the ball is considered in play. So, when Williamson picked it up, it was a handball. Total lack of awareness, an agonizing way to lose two points. This draw, their third of the season, means Arsenal has only managed two wins in six total matches. This kind of form is just not gonna cut it if they want to get through the League Phase, especially after a tough fight to beat Koge to open things up.
Meanwhile, Paris FC is on the come up in the Champions League, making their third group or league phase appearance in just four years, even though English teams have given them fits lately. For Arsenal, this result is brutal. They desperately need to find some consistent form. Their Champions League path is looking way tougher than anyone expected right now, and they gotta turn it around ASAP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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