Arsenal Women vs. A-League All Stars final score, result and highlights as Super League side secure narrow win

Kieran Francis

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Arsenal Women vs. A-League All Stars final score, result and highlights as Super League side secure narrow win image

Arsenal Women have shaded the A-League All Stars 1-0 in a hard-fought friendly encounter at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on Friday night.

England star Alessia Russo scored the only goal of the game in the first half with both teams having several chances to add to the scoreline throughout the match.

Debutant Arsenal goalkeeper Naomi Williams made a stunning save to deny Hannah Wilkinson in the dying stages of the game to earn the victory.

MORE: Newcastle United vs. A-League All Stars final score, result and highlights as Magpies hit for eight goals in embarrassing performance

After overcoming a couple of deflated footballs in the early stages, Arsenal enjoyed the brighter start, showing their cohesion against the first-ever A-League Women All Stars team.

Featuring Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross in the starting line-up, Arsenal had the early chances with Russo looking threatening.

A-League All Stars striker Cortnee Vine wowed the crowd with a magnificent nutmeg in the box in the 27th minute, with the ball unfortunately cleared as she was about to pull the trigger.

Russo's presence resulted in the first goal on 39 minutes as she headed in the cross from Vivianne Lia to give Arsenal a deserved lead.

An equaliser almost came four minutes later as Michelle Heyman just failed to make connection with Vine's cross in the A-League All Stars' best chance of the half.

A swag of substitutions at half-time saw the A-League All Stars gain a stronger foothold in the match, with Arsenal rotating through their squad.

Despite the improved performance from the representative side, it was Foord who nearly made it two for Arsenal, but her shot was blocked by Jada Whyman at the near post.

Heyman's work-rate was on show all night and her pressing earned a chance for Rhianna Pollicina, with her left-footed shot going straight into the arms of Williams.

Arsenal Women resisted the pressure for most of the second half until Wilkinson had a golden chance to equalised for the A-League All Stars.

Mackenzie Hawkesby played Wilkinson through on goal in the 88th minute, with the striker having just Williams to beat, but the Arsenal Women goalkeeper made a magnificent fingertip to save to earn the victory.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.