Match report: Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Arsenal

2 - 3

WHAT HAPPENED

We were involved in yet another thriller as we beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 with 10 men on Monday night.

Kevin Betsy's side went into the break two goals to the good, but the game changed early in the second half after Brooke Norton-Cuffy was shown a straight red card.

Blackburn pulled two goals back against our 10 men, before Folarin Balogun popped up with a dramatic late winner to earn us all three points.

We had the game's first real chance when Balogun tested Aynsley Pears with a fierce shot after some excellent work from Mika Biereth to set up his strike partner.

The home side had the ball in the net shortly after, Jared Harlock finishing a well-worked team move, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside.

Biereth opened the scoring for us midway through the first half, as Joel Lopez's cross fell kindly to the feet of our striker, who turned his man well in the box before firing low beyond Pears.

Omari Hutchinson double our lead on the stroke of half time, finding the top corner in stunning fashion from 25 yards out after receiving the ball just inside the Blackburn half.

The second half got off to a nightmare start, Norton-Cuffy being shown a straight red card for denying Blackburn a goalscoring opportunity with a deliberate handball.

The home side's onslaught eventually told against our 10 men midway through the second half, Sam Burns' initial effort hitting the post before Ovie Ejeheri could only parry the rebound into his own net.

Blackburn then drew level with 20 minutes to go, Connor McBride sending Ejeheri the wrong way from the spot after Zach Awe gave away the penalty.

Omar Rekik and Ejeheri performed heroics at the back to keep us level going into the final stages of the match.

Our captain Balogun then netted a dramatic winner against the run of play, finishing on the turn inside the box after Blackburn failed to clear our corner.

Ejeheri was forced into yet another remarkable save with seconds remaining, denying Burns from point-blank range, as we held on to earn all three points.