Manchester City Women 2, Arsenal Women 1
Manchester City overcame an early setback to produce an injury time winner against Arsenal Women thanks to Caroline Weir.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam Mewis’ header cancelled out Vivianne Miedema’s early strike but despite dominating the game after that clear chances for City were hard to come by until Weir scored her first WSL goal of the season in the 94th minute.
After racking up 18 shots on goal (4 on target) from 57% of possession it was was a deserved win in the end and left the Blues just a point behind the Gunners in third place – the final qualifying spot for next season’s Champions League – after a must-win game.
Arsenal were a shadow of their usual selves, barely troubling Ellie Roebuck after their opening goal and spending much of their time frustrating City’s attempts to score.
Lauren Hemp was handed a first start for City since the Community Shield after her return from injury.
And the pre-match saw both teams get behind Arsenal defender and former City player Jen Beattie with t-shirts bearing her name in the warm-up after her breast cancer diagnosis became public in the run-up to the game.
Arsenal were ahead in little over 2 minutes after a poor touch from Keira Walsh from an undercooked pass by Lucy Bronze gave Vivianne Miedema plenty of time to score her 11th goal of the season after slotting the ball inside the back post beyond the reach of Ellie Roebuck.
City remained committed to patient build up and there were half chances for Mewis, who was central to City’s best moves in the game, and Weir as City immediately put the Gunners under increasing pressure.
It was inevitable that Mewis would get the equaliser from a City corner by Chloe Kelly – the tall midfielder didn’t need to jump high to head City level after 30 minutes as the ball evaded Miedema at the near post.
Kelly shot straight at Lydia Williams at the end of the first half as Arsenal struggled to create another chance after their early good fortune.
City kept racking up the chances after the break with Williams punching away a ball from Alex Greenwood.
Ellen White replaced Hemp after 63 minutes as City reshuffled and Georgia Stanway’s shot was blocked by Leah Williamson.
Mewis put another cross into the area which was too far in front of Weir and the Scot later hammered a 35 yard shot just wide of the post after a poor clearance by Williams.
Janine Beckie replaced Kelly with 16 minutes to go while Danielle van de Donk and Jordan Nobbs came on for Arsenal, replacing Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead.
Mewis laid on another cross for Stanway but Steph Catley cleared the ball for a corner.
The USWNT midfielder also headed wide from Weir’s late corner as City started to run out of time to grab a winner.
There were two goalmouth scrambles from Weir corners in injury time but Arsenal managed to clear their lines as City became desperate.
With seconds left Weir smashed the ball home from 20 yards with a sweet left footed drive for her first WSL goal of the season after Stanway had nicked the loose ball from substitute Lisa Evans and had her initial shot blocked.
The result keeps City in the title hunt, remaining 5 points behind Manchester United and just a point behind the Gunners in 3rd.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 2, Arsenal Women 1
Man City Women 0, Arsenal Women 1: 3. A poor touch from Keia Walsh from an undercooked pass by Lucy Bronze gave Vivianne Miedema plenty of time to score her 11th goal of the season after slotting the ball inside the back post beyond the reach of Ellie Roebuck.
Man City Women 1, Arsenal Women 1: 30. Sam Mewis’ header from Chloe Kelly’s corner was headed in unopposed beyond Vivianne Miedema guarding the post.
Man City Women 2, Arsenal Women 1: 90+4. Caroline Weir smashed the ball home from 20 yards out for her first WSL goal of the season after Georgia Stanway had nicked the loose ball from substitute Lisa Evans and had her initial shot blocked.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 2, Arsenal Women 1
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bronze, Houghton, Greenwood, Stokes, Mewis, Walsh, Weir, Kelly (Beckie 74), Stanway, Hemp (White 63)
Man City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Benameur, Bonner, Coombs, Scott, Morgan, Park
Goals: Mewis 30; Weir 90+4
Arsenal Women: Williams, Maier (Catley 66), Williamson, Beattie, McCabe, Little, Gut (Evans 88), Roord, Mead (Nobbs 80), Miedema, Foord (van de Donk 80)
Arsenal Women subs not used: Zinsberger, Stenson
Booked: Beattie 31 (foul on Georgia Stanway); McCabe 87 (foul on Janine Beckie); Nobbs
Goal: Miedema 3
Referee: Emily Heaslip