- Walcott gives early hope
- Koscielny sent off, 54'
- Lewandowski converts PK
- Brace for Vidal
- Robben, Costa also score
Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski eliminated all Arsenal hope when he won and converted a penalty kick in a 5-1 win in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match-up at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Arsenal had gone ahead 1-0 through Theo Walcott, but still trailed 5-2 on aggregate, when Laurent Koscielny tripped up Lewandowski in the box. Koscielny was shown red.
The final score was 10-2 on aggregate, and the 5-1 home loss was the worst home blowout in Arsenal’s European history.
[ MORE: Champions League scores ]
A couple of chances went by the wayside before Arsenal went in front through Walcott. Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer was prepared for a low shot, and Walcott ripped a high attempt that Neuer could only parry into the goal.
Arturo Vidal fouled Hector Bellerin in nodding a cross at David Ospina, as Bayern looked for a quick answer.
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]
Not even Neuer could stop that one. Walcott has given Arsenal life! #UCL #ARSFCB https://t.co/OOd8IOTREZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 7, 2017
[ MORE: Europa League schedule ]
Walcott had a very similar chance from a tighter angle, and blasted the contested shot off the outside of the net.
Robert Lewandowski missed a 38th minute chance to put the tie to bed when he mishit Arjen Robben’s looped pass wide of Ospina’s goal.
For as lopsided a score line as it was, Arsenal had plenty of chances to narrow it. Olivier Giroud nearly headed an Aaron Ramsey cross past Neuer in the 48th minute, putting it just over the bar.
Bayern came close to leveling the leg when Mats Hummels raced onto a free kick to redirect the ball past Ospina, but replays showed he was correctly ruled offside.
Lewandowski then worked Nacho Monreal to get free on goal, and was taken down by Laurent Koscielny. It began as a yellow card but was upgraded to a red for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Arsenal would be down a man before it went down 6-2, which it did when Lewandowski bested Ospina.
Take another look at the penalty decision. Should it have been a red? #UCL #ARSFCB https://t.co/RL2KgT5wEh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 7, 2017
Robben then looked to work a 1-2 with Lewandowski before beating Alexis Sanchez to the business end. Ospina couldn’t stop Robben’s shot, and it was 7-2.
It certainly could’ve gotten worse. Costa roasted Bellerin and squared the ball into the six where Lewandowski’s sliding effort spun off the far post.
Costa got his goal in the 78th minute when he cut around Montreal to beat a flying Ospina. And the goalkeeper was faced with a 2-on-0 when Lewandowski deferred to Vidal for a chipped finish. It wasn’t the last 2-on-0. Costa fed Vidal in the 85th minute to complete the bloodbath.