Getting into the business end of the league season and still all to play for. Arsenal Ladies go into today's match having slipped from 2nd to 3rd in the FA WSL 1 table following Chelsea Ladies 4-0 victory over Birmingham City Ladies earlier in the day. The FA Cup winners reclaiming top spot 2 points clear of Arsenal Ladies on 20 points at the top displacing surprise leaders Sunderland Ladies on 19 points following their 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool Ladies on Saturday. With 18 points after 9 matches played so far this season and just the 1 defeat Arsenal Ladies would go top themselves with a win again Manchester City Women.
Going into this evenings match Manchester City Women were in 4th place in the table with 14 points after 8 matches played a gap of 4 points between themselves and Arsenal Ladies a defeat would seriously dent their chances of challenging for the top of the table a win would play them right back into the title mix up, especially as they have a game in hand on all the sides above them.
A hot and sunny Sunday evening with the BT Sport cameras in town, the Meadow Park pitch looked in great condition with another good sized crowd building at the ground as the two sides walked onto the pitch.
Arsenal Ladies starting XI - Emma Byrne, Alex Scott (C), Emma Mitchell, Casey Stoney, Jemma Rose, Marta Corredera, Jade Bailey, Dominique Janssen, Natalia Pablos Sanchon, Chioma Ubogagu & Danielle Carter.
subs - Sari Van Veenendaal, Jordan Nobbs, Rachel Yankey, Carla Humphrey, Chloe Kelly, Lotte Wubban-Moy & Georgia Allen.
Manchester City Women starting XI - Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton (C), Kathleen Radtke, Isobel Christiansen, Jennifer Beattie, Jill Scott, Daphne Corboz, Toni Duggan & Nikita Parris.
subs - Alex Brooks, Emma Lipman, Krystle Johnston, Natasha Flint, Abbie McManus & Georgia Brougham.
It's Manchester City to kick off the match wearing their home colours, sky blue shirts and socks with white shorts, Arsenal lined up opposite in their home colours, red shirts with white shoulders and sleeves, white shorts and socks. Manchester City look to play the ball early on have a willing runner in Nikita Parris up top, the ball is too long allowing Arsenal goalkeeper Emma Byrne to take comfortably.
Manchester City have started on the front foot, Jill Scott getting onto the ball in the centre of midfield plays the pass out to Daphne Corboz on the right, behind her from right back Lucy Bronze makes a storming run to get ahead of her and into the box, Corboz sends the ball forwards into Bronze who forces an early corner as she tries to take on the Arsenal defence. The corner from the right is played in high by Isobel Christiansen, captain Steph Houghton is the one looking to get on to the ball leaping can't quite get there the ball is reclaimed by Manchester City sent in towards the far post, Jennifer Beattie is there lays the ball back to Christiansen her shot from 12 yards out is held by Byrne.
Parris is fed the ball wide on the right is a race shoulder to shoulder with Arsenal left back Emma Mitchell as she takes the ball into the box the defender putting the blocking tackle in to concede the corner as Parris tries to take on the shot. The corner is put towards the back post looking for Beattie, sending it in towards Byrne the goalkeeper dives to claim the ball even as it looked to be heading wide.
Manchester City are looking to press Arsenal for the ball especially inside the opposition half with both full backs Bronze on the right and Demi Stokes on the left looking to get forwards. Bronze looks to go beyond the attackers take on the Arsenal defence has her shot blocked inside the box. Arsenal in contrast are being forced to play from deep their attackers receiving the ball on the half way line then running into traffic centrally as Manchester City track back in numbers.
Marta Corredera gets hold of the ball in the centre plays the pass out to Carter making a run into the right channel, has support from captain Alex Scott on the overlap sends the ball into her path taking it into the area, Scott swings the cross in towards the near post, Manchester City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has the angle covered, sets up a break getting the ball up the other end force the error as Arsenal concede the corner. A good delivery into the middle the ball is headed goal wards by Jill Scott, back to defend Carter is the one who cuts the ball out heading it clear.
Manchester City retain possession from a throw on the left played into Parris 25 yards from goal, on the turn she hits the ball towards goal a low strike is drilled wide of goal. Another Manchester City attack as Corboz brings the ball in from the right plays it into Christiansen who powers her way forwards before laying it off to Toni Duggan who goes for the shot from just inside the area sweeping the ball wide across Byrne's goal.
GOAL! Another strong run from Corboz on the right hard to shake off the ball wins her team a corner. From the right the ball is played into the congested area, an inviting height Byrne comes looking to collect the ball, doesn't take it as it flies beyond her is met by Bronze who headers the ball towards goal, covering the far post Alex Scott does well to get across and hook the ball clear, in vain however as the assistant waves his flag to indicate the ball had crossed the line 0-1.
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| Manchester Cty's opening goal Lucy Bronze heading the ball, Alex Scott out of shot unable to keep the ball from going in |
Is a dominant performance from Manchester City continue to create chances win a free kick on the halfway line to the right Houghton to take sends the ball long looking for Parris to chase it down, has Casey Stoney for company as the pair race into the area, towards the right of the six yard box Parris gets the touch to stop the ball give herself half a yard on Stoney, shoots Byrne throws herself into the save getting everything behind it parries the ball away, loose Duggan's eyes light up as she senses the opportunity, Alex Scott gets across in the knick of time to take the ball off her foot deny the shot.
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| Manchester City's Toni Duggan |
Corredera is trying to get on the ball higher up the pitch for Arsenal looking to set up Carter to her left, taking the ball on into the area can find no way past Bronze. Arsenal retain possession for a spell inside the Manchester City half with Chioma Ubogagu the ball eventually returned to her 25 yards out she hits the shot low towards goal, no power behind it Bardsley has no problems scooping it up.
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| Arsenal Ladies Casey Stoney beats Toni Duggan to the ball |
Late into the 1st half Corredera tries her luck from 30 yards out central to goal, but like Ubogagu's earlier effort the low strike hasn't the power needed to beat Bardsley. Capitalising on a loose ball out from Bardsley, Corredera slides the ball through the centre looking for Ubogagu, is a chase for the ball with Stokes the full back having tracked back gets there just before the Arsenal attacker prods the ball back to Bardsley who kicks clear.
Half-time Arsenal Ladies 0-1 Manchester City Women
Has been a strong 1st half display from Manchester City Women who have worked very hard to press the ball getting players around the ball and preventing Arsenal Ladies finding their passes, have created chances and taken the lead, only a single goal separating the sides though, Arsenal are still very much in the game but will need to get hold of the ball more in the 2nd half as they kick off.
GOAL! The perfect start to the half for Arsenal, the last thing Manchester City wanted as the home side bring the scores level. The ball is rolled through to Carter from the centre of midfield on the right of the area she has Alex Scott bombing up the pitch to support plays the ball out to her. Stabs the ball into the box I suspect looking to pick out Ubogagu who has made the run towards the far post area, instead the looping ball swings in towards goal looping over Bardsley and into the goal beyond 1-1.
Is a more even start to the 2nd half with Arsenal matching Manchester City when pressing for the ball. Bronze is still looking to get forwards is allowed to bring the ball on attempts to play the through ball for Duggan to attack, instead Jemma Rose comes across to win the ball. Like Bronze for Manchester City, Alex Scott is getting forwards alot more now for Arsenal Ladies squares the ball from the wing into Natalia Pablos Sanchon free inside the D, is allowed the time to tee up a shot scoops the ball in towards goal, Bronze is back to get her head onto the ball to clear.
GOAL! It isn't long before Manchester City restore their lead, Bronze is in the heart of the action again, races up the pitch as the ball is put out to Corboz on the right coming inside it is a simple pas to play the ball into Bronze's run, the Arsenal defence is drawn towards Bronze as she closes in on the near post, gets the ball across the six yard box where her team mates have overloaded the far post area unmarked the ball comes to the foot of Christiansen harder to miss than score she makes no mistake putting the ball into the back of the net 1-2.
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| Scorer of Manchester City's 2nd goal Isobel Christiansen |
Ubogagu strong in the challenge gets hold of the ball inside her own half bursting forwards looks to take on Bronze is a good race as the two head into the area, Ubogagu with the touch to beat Bronze cuts back opts to take on the shot hitting it towards the near post, Bardsley is across to cover the angle and has the shot covered.
GOAL! Manchester City Women extend their lead on the 68th minute and it's a beauty of a strike from Toni Duggan too. Is at the centre of the build up with the ball at her feet out on the left side of the pitch coming inside as she reaches the corner of the Arsenal area has Stokes racing up to support plays the ball into Stokes' feet as she enters the area, Stokes returns the ball to Duggan who from the corner of the area strikes the shoot a curling shot that gives Byrne no chance as it sweeps into the top right hand corner of her goal 1-3.
Another long range pile driver from Beattie stings Byrne's gloves as she brings the ball down gathers before Parris can pounce. Natalia brings the ball forwards for Arsenal, Carter is making the cross field run for her attempts to play the ball through, Kathleen Radtke is across to make the winning tackle the ball is loose Ubogagu latches onto it shoots Bardsley though can see it wide of her goal.
Last action of the match for Ubogagu as Arsenal make their 1st chance with Rachel Yankey the player coming on. Soon after Manchester City bring off Corboz with Krystle Johnston coming on in her place on the right as the game enters the last 10 minutes.
GOAL! Arsenal pull a goal back as Corredera takes the ball into the right channel before firing in a defence splitting cross to pick out Natalia making the near post run gets her head to the ball turning it across Bardsley and into the back of the net to set up an exciting finish 2-3.
A 2nd change for Arsenal with Jade Bailey coming off as manager Pedro Martinez Losa sends on Georgia Allen. Manchester City continue to push forwards with time and space out wide right Johnston sends a cross in to the area to close to goal Byrne collects near post. Arsenal pressure win the ball play it forwards along the right wing the cross is swept into the area Bronze once again is there to head clear.
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| Arsenal Ladies, Dominique Janssen with Jill Scott |
Closing minutes Manchester City bring on Abbie McManus for Parris as they look to retain possession heading into stoppage time. Corredera with the ball sends it into the box looking for Natalia, Bronze is across to take the ball away from her before she can head it towards goal. Moments left Arsenal have the ball deep inside the Manchester City half on the left the ball comes back to Yankey 25 yards out flicks the ball up and hits it on the half volley wide of target the last action of the half as the final whistle blows and the visitors clinch the 3-2 win and the 3 points that see them close right up behind the leading trio.
A game in hand on the teams above them and in a rich vein of form Manchester City have played themselves right back into the title race. Was a very good performance today, a team effort to press the ball was impressed by Isobel Christiansen in the centre of midfield having seen her as more of an attacker wide in a three she has really developed in this new role for Manchester City.
A below par performance from Arsenal Ladies couldn't really get hold of the ball for long enough periods have a few players missing particularly in the middle of the park, are still in 3rd place however and very much involved in the battle at the top.
3 points separating the top 4 sides in FA WSL 1 there will be a few more twists and turns yet, not many games left to play however the title is going to the wire... again.
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