Alessia Russo scores brace as Arsenal overcomes early deficit to beat Real Madrid

Arsenal were in a tough spot after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid. The first match was played at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid on a rain-soaked pitch that resembled No Man's Land in "All Quiet on the Western Front." Real Madrid scored on either side of halftime, taking a 2-0 lead into the deciding match in London.

With their backs against the wall, the Gunners took the match to Real Madrid, pinning them in their own half, bombarding their box with crosses from Chloe Kelly. None of them found a finish equal to their quality, and Arsenal went into the dressing room needing three goals in 45 minutes to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.

Coach Renée Slegers must have fed the team cocaine at halftime, because the Gunners came out in the second half shot out of a cannon. Alessia Russo scored Arsenal's first goal in the first minute of the second half, sliding to slot home a Chloe Kelly cross with her first touch:

Mariona Caldentey, a former Barcelona player, headed in a Chloe Kelly cross three minutes later to tie up the series, but Arsenal were not done there. They kept pouring on the pressure, and in the 59th minute, Katie McCabe fired a free kick into the Real Madrid box that was headed down by Steph Catley, and Russo latched onto the ball, volleying into the net to take the lead.

What's more, Alessia Russo put the ball in the net two more times (both on her first touch), but marginal offsides calls kept a stellar night from becoming a historic one. The former Tar Heel is having a fantastic season for Arsenal, scoring seven goals in 12 Champions League games, in addition to her 10 goals in 17 Women's Super League contests.

Arsenal will now face French powerhouse Lyon in the Champions League semi-finals, starting April 19th. The Gunners will need all of Russo's firepower to advance to the final in Lisbon.