MAN CITY WOMEN 1, ARSENAL WOMEN 1
Former Manchester United player Tobin Heath struck in injury time to put a dent in Manchester City’s bid for a top-three finish in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and a Champions League spot.
The Arsenal substitute scored the Gunners’ 11th stoppage time goal of the season to prevent form-side City making it seven straight wins in all competitions.
It looked as though City were going to take maximum spoils thanks to a controversial goal from Khadija Shaw which would have moved City up to fourth and within three points of leaders Arsenal.
It was goal clouded in controversy as in the build up the ball deflected off referee Abigail Byrne and, by the letter of the law a drop ball ought to have been awarded.
Tobin’s last-gasp goal, in the second of six added minutes, means there is still a six-point differential between the teams.
But with six points separating the top five teams in what looks like being a compelling title race.
On a weekend when Arsenal, who had suffered three straight defeats in all competitions before this match, Chelsea and City all dropped points, Manchester United were the big winners after they beat fourth-placed Tottenham to move up to second.
City manager Gareth Taylor had little sympathy for Arsenal’s complaints about their goal.
“We have been on the wrong end of decisions this season, so it is nice if one went out way,” he said.
Taylor claimed his side ought to have won, adding: “We worked so hard and had opportunities after going ahead and should have had a penalty which was not given.
“The girls deserved to win for the heart they showed. I was proud of the team and the way they performed.”
Eidevall said: “It was so important that we got a reward for all the hard work we put into our performance.
“For Manchester City to get the goal the way they did, we needed to not lose our heads, we needed to fight for every second and I think we deserved our goal.
“I was animated at the time, everyone stops playing because it hits the referee and I think she has to answer the question as to why she let the game go on. When you look in the rule book, how can you allow play to go on?
“In games like these there are such small margins. I’m not going to say that that’s why we didn’t win the game but we’re fighting so hard so it’s easy to understand why I was so animated because I feel we were left disadvantaged by that incident.”
Taylor made three changes to the side from their cup quarter-final victory over Bristol City earlier in the week.
Demi Stokes returned at left-back, Keira Walsh was back in midfield and Jess Park started as Laura Coombs, Filippa Angeldal and Janine Beckie dropped to the bench.
Jonas Eidevall made two changes to the side which suffered defeat in Wednesday’s cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
The big news was that Leah Williamson started as Lotte Wubben-Moy partnered her in defence.
Viktoria Schnaderbeck and Jen Beattie dropped to the bench. New signing Raphaelle Souza was a substitute, alongside Tobin Heath.
There was a nervy start for City’s 17-year-old rookie goalkeeper Khiara Keating who was playing the biggest match of her career, but Arsenal were unable to capitalise on two separate lapses as Alex Greenwood saved the day blocking Vivianne Miedema’s goalbound shot.
It was an opening half of precious few chances and not one which could be described as gilt-edged.
City’s Lauren Hemp headed straight at goalkeeper Maneula Zinsberger while Jess Park and Lucy Bronze failed to hit the target with goal attempts.
The opening period was viewed differently as a running commentary on the BBC declared it was ‘no classic’ yet City’s stadium announced pronounced it was ‘nail-biting’.
There was a brighter start to the second period as Vicky Losada fired narrowly wide for City while Arsenal’s Beth Mead’s fiercely struck shot was well beaten out by Keating.
City had a great chance to take the lead just after the hour when Jess Park was put through but Zinsberger pulled off a great block and her defenders scrambled the loose ball behind for a corner.
But Taylor’s side made the decisive breakthrough midway through the second period.
Hemp raced away down the left and her low cross was almost walked into the net by Shaw from inside the six-yard box, her ninth goal of the season.
Eidevall was booked for dissent as Arsenal were aggrieved that play was not halted in the build up when the ball struck referee Byrne.
Hemp was denied by the legs of Zinsberger who also saved well twice from Caroline Weir as City went for a second goal to seal victory.
But they were to prove costly misses when Heath struck. City failed to clear a ball into the box enabling Heath to fire an angled shot low to the left of Keating.