Arsenal 1, Manchester City 2
Lauren Hemp scored the winning goal as Manchester City closed to within two points of Chelsea at the top of the league after a dramatic day in the Women’s Super League.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity ended the day still in third but now 7 points clear of Arsenal in 4th and with a game in hand over Manchester United in second on goal difference with Chelsea.
Defeats for Manchester United and Chelsea meant that both of these sides had a great chance to close the gap on the top two but Ellen White’s early strike was cancelled out by Caitlin Foord as Arsenal went toe to toe with City.
White also hit the post and Manuela Zinsberger made a couple of crucial saves to keep City at bay but she could not stop Hemp’s late header from close range after the Blues cranked up the pressure in the final quarter of the match.
Both goals were created by Chloe Kelly who was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet herself as City put themselves firmly back in the title mix with the win.
City were unchanged from the side that beat West Ham at the City Football Academy as they faced Arsenal in arctic conditions at Borehamwood where shots on target were at a premium.
Both sides were well matched in their quest to secure Champions League football for next season and pressed each other high.
City matched Arsenal in the early stages but perhaps missed the presence of Sam Mewis in midfield.
But the deadlock was broken after 24 minutes when White lashed in a shot off the crossbar after meeting a quality cross by Kelly from the right with a fierce half volley in the blustery conditions.
It was her fourth goal in as many games for the England international who returned to the top of the all-time WSL scorers chart with 55 goals – one ahead of Vivianne Miedema.
Katie McCabe’s long range drive was well saved by Ellie Roebuck as the Gunners tried to get back into the game with chances for Miedema and Beth Mead.
And Jill Roord was just offside after Arsenal had the ball in the back of the City goal towards the end of the first half.
But White fired wide while Kelly’s cut inside to shoot into the arms of Manuela Zinsberger as the game opened up.
Alex Greenwood’s looping cross/shot was an easy take for Zinsberger after the break and for a time City looked a little too comfortable.
Arsenal put the pressure on Manchester City but Lauren Hemp hits a late winner to put them right back into the WSL title race
But the Gunners were level after 57 minutes when Caitlin Foord beat Roebuck with a cool finish after Roord’s right wing cross following an Arsenal counter attack.
Stung into action, City had to up a gear but Arsenal had been buoyed by their equaliser and put the visitors under pressure.
White was beaten to Hemp’s cross by Lotte Wubben-Moy but City could not force a chance from the resulting corner.
And White was denied later after City failed to force the ball home during a goal mouth scramble with McCabe and Lucy Bronze both going down as the two tangled in the penalty area.
White then stuck the post and saw Kelly’s follow up blocked by Wubben-Moy as City piled on the pressure.
Zinsberger palmed Kelly’s resulting corner behind in the blustery conditions and also blocked a curling free kick by Caroline Weir.
Arsenal made their first change in the 77th minute, with Noelle Maritz replacing McCabe, as it looked as though the Gunners would settle for the first draw between the two sides in 14 WSL games.
But City amped up the pressure as Arsenal faded and broke the deadlock after 79 minutes when Kelly’s cross from the right was headed home by Lauren Hemp from 7 yards out as she cut in from the left.
Kelly could have put the result beyond doubt a minute later but Hemp’s left wing cross was too high for the winger who had gone central.
Roebuck came off her line to get the ball as Foord broke free but there was no drama as her team mates came back to clear the ball.
Rose Lavelle and Janine Beckie replaced Kelly and White in the closing stages and despite some dangerous moments for the visitors, with Miedema letting the ball run away from her and Mead’s shot deflected into the arms of Roebuck in added time, City held out for the precious points.
GOALS – Arsenal 1, Manchester City 2
Arsenal Women 0, Man City Women 1: 24. Ellen White’s half volleyed fierce shot went in off the underside of the crossbar as she met Chloe Kelly’s right wing cross with a lethal finish.
Arsenal Women 1, Man City Women 1: 57. Jill Roord crossed for a well taken finish by Caitlin Foord after City were caught on the break.
Arsenal Women 1, Man City Women 2: 79. Chloe Kelly’s right wing cross was converted brilliantly with a bullet header by Lauren Hemp from 7 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Arsenal 1, Manchester City 2
Arsenal Women: Zinsberger, Evans, Williams, Wubben-Moy, McCabe (Maritz 77), van de Donk, Walti, Roord, Mead, Miedema, Foord
Arsenal Women subs not used: Stenson, Patten, Wiliams, Maier, Gut
Goal: Foord 57
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bronze, Houghton, Dahlkemper, Greenwood, Stanway, Walsh, Weir, Kelly (Lavelle 87), White (Beckie 90+1), Hemp
Man City Women subs not used: Bardsley, Benameur, Mannion, Coombs, Morgan. Park, Davies
Booked: Bronze 71
Goals: White 24; Hemp 79
Referee: Kirsty Dowle