Pelova’s Stunning Arsenal Return After Injury Sparks Victory Over Liverpool!
Victoria Pelova’s Return Marks a Milestone for Arsenal
Victoria Pelova made a significant comeback for Arsenal after months of injury absence, stepping onto the field with just a quarter of an hour left in a match against Liverpool. The game ended with a decisive score of 4-0 in favor of Arsenal.
Pelova, a 25-year-old midfielder, faced a long recovery period after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament during an EURO 2024 qualifier against Finland in June of last year. At the moment she was substituted into the game, she had endured 308 days on the sidelines.
Arsenal’s Dominance in the League
In addition to Pelova’s return, Daphne van Domselaar also made her presence felt by starting in goal for Arsenal, having recently recovered from a concussion sustained in a previous FA Cup match against the same Liverpool side.
After suffering a 1-0 defeat in that FA Cup clash, Arsenal sought to avenge their loss. Caitlin Foord opened the scoring just under 30 minutes into the game, finishing from close range. A minute and a half later, the lead was doubled when defender Jasmine Matthews scored an own goal.
Before halftime, Mariona Caldentey added a third goal for Arsenal, and Matthews unfortunately netted another own goal in the second half, solidifying the team’s dominance.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored by Arsenal | 4 |
| Duration Pelova was Absent | 308 days |
Pelova’s re-entry onto the pitch was met with enthusiastic cheers from the Emirates Stadium crowd, which numbered over 35,000. She expressed her joy, stating, “I hoped for this. It’s great to be back, and I’m thrilled I could do it here, in this stadium, with my family in attendance.”
Everton Shines Against Crystal Palace
In another notable match within the Women’s Super League, Everton triumphed over Crystal Palace with a convincing 3-0 victory. Katja Snoeijs’ Everton saw significant contributions from players Aniek Nouwen and Ashleigh Weerden, who both started for Crystal Palace.
This win pushed Everton up to seventh place in the league standings, while Crystal Palace remained at the bottom of the table.
Continued Success in France
Across the channel in France, Olympique Lyonnais, featuring Daniëlle van de Donk, achieved a resounding 5-0 victory against Saint-Etienne. Van de Donk, who missed a recent Champions League match against Bayern Munich due to injury, played for over half an hour in this dominant display.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands national team is set to gather in just over a week to prepare for their Nations League match against Austria in Almelo, followed four days later by a return leg in Austria. Currently, the Netherlands sits in second place in Group A1 after two matches.
