Caldentey's 93rd-minute penalty rescues Arsenal against HB Køge
Mariona Caldentey scored a 93rd-minute penalty to give Arsenal victory over HB Køge in their Women's Champions League opener at Meadow Park on 22 September.
It was a late, loud finish to a quiet, stubborn night. Arsenal dominated the ball and the chances but could not break through until the final seconds of added time. Caldentey kept cool from the spot to settle it.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers had shuffled her pack. She made eight changes to the starting XI from the team that drew with Manchester United, with only Leah Williamson, Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius keeping their places, according to The Guardian. It was a clear show of trust in the depth of the squad. It almost backfired.
The hosts thought they had an early lead. Chloe Kelly found the net in the 13th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR check. VAR, the video assistant referee system that reviews key decisions on replay, judged Blackstenius offside for standing in front of goalkeeper Alberte Vingum and blocking her view. No goal. Play on.
That set the tone. Arsenal pressed and probed. Køge, managed by Kristian Mørch Rasmussen, stayed compact and organised. The Danish side defended their box well and made life awkward for a home team still searching for rhythm.
Domestic form helps explain the nerves. Arsenal arrived with five points from three Women's Super League games, after draws against Crystal Palace and Manchester United. For a club that expects to challenge for the title, that is a slow start. A European opener felt like a chance to reset.
Køge had earned their place the hard way. They beat Riga 4-1, then edged Hearts 2-1 in second-round qualifying, before beating PSV Eindhoven 2-1 on aggregate to reach the league phase. The league phase is the opening round of the main competition, where teams play a series of fixtures to earn a place in the knockouts. It was Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 edition, UEFA confirmed before the tie.
History favoured Arsenal. The clubs met in the 2021/22 group stage, when Arsenal won 5-1 in Denmark and 3-0 in England. Caitlin Foord scored in both of those games. This time Køge were far harder to break down. BBC Sport tracked the game with live text commentary, score updates and match stats.
What makes this stand out is the relief as much as the result. A rotated team, a disallowed goal, a long evening against brave underdogs. Then one penalty, one clean strike, three points. For fans, this means a winning start in Europe while the league form is still warming up.
Elsewhere on the opening night, Manchester City fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bayern Munich. Arsenal will take the other route. Ugly for 92 minutes, perfect in the 93rd.
