A round-up of all the action from week two of the WSL as Arsenal and Man Utd played out an entertaining draw and Man City held on for a point against Chelsea despite going down to nine…
Results:
Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal
Brighton 0-2 West Ham
Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
Tottenham 3-1 Bristol
Leicester 1-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa
Lacasse stunner earns Gunners a well deserved draw
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was late drama at Leigh Sports Village as Arsenal salvaged a point in stoppage time against title challengers Manchester United, credit to a spectacular last-minute strike from Cloe Lacasse.
In a game where Jonas Eidevall had made six changes to the team that was defeated by Liverpool at home a week earlier, this clash was nothing less than crucial for the Gunners. With the likes of Katie McCabe, Caitlin Foord and Manuel Zinsberger all dropping to the bench, there were question marks regarding the team selection, none more than the sight of Sabrina D’Angelo between the posts.
A positive start to the game from the away side was rewarded in the 14th minute with a fine finish from Stina Blackstenius as she tucked the ball past England number one, Mary Earps following a flowing counter attack. Nevertheless, such a lead quickly vanished as Goalkeeper D’Angelo misjudged a bouncing ball, swiping at it and leaving Leah Galton free to tap home to level the score.
Fuelled by their equaliser, the hosts began to turn up the dial in the final third but Arsenal’s backline dealt well under consistent pressure from Galton and Brazilian forward, Geyse. The Gunner themselves also came close as former United player, Alessia Russo forced a wonderful save from Earps as her shot was tipped on the post.
Against the run of play in the 81st minute, it seemed as if the home side were gunning toward victory when forward Melvine Malard snuck between the Arsenal backline and poked the ball into the net.
However, such fighting spirit we know the Gunners are filled with shone through in the dying stages as a stunning strike from Lacasse nestled into the top left corner. Such a result means that Arsenal avoid losing four WSL games in a row for the first time in their history as well as giving the team a much needed boost ahead of another big game against Villa in gameweek 3.
City hold on to a point despite going down to nine
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo red cards and still a point… what a result for City it was. Given a second yellow card for supposed time wasting, Captain Alex Greenwood was controversially sent off late in the first half causing huge uproar from the crowd creating the largest talking point of the weekend, and inevitably changing the course of a match the home side dominated.
Kelly’s thumping strike early in the first half after Mary Fowler danced around the edge of the box, looked as though it might earn the home side 3 points as they played with a sense of injustice and tenacity throughout the course of the game. Some may even say they were unlucky to not walk away with the win as Sky Blues dug deep against the Champions.
It was only deep in added time, when City were down to eight as defender Alanna Kennedy was receiving treatment off the pitch that Chelsea were able to put the ball into the net as Guro Reiten was quickest to react following a corner, crushing City hearts.
In a game that endured great chaos, with Aleixandri, Kelly and Roord all picking up bookings for dissent, as well as Hemp picking up a second yellow in the latter stages of the game, such a feisty and enthralling encounter was furthered when manager Gareth Taylor was also cautioned for dissent. Such poor officiating sparked City supporters to begin chanting the seconds taken over each free-kick and throw-in throughout the second half, while continuing to boo decisions which went against them, seeming to spur on their side.
Although the decision for the sending off of Greenwood drew wide-spread criticism from former and current players on social media, some may also agree that it is something we need to get used to this season as referees attempt to clamp down on time-wasting in the WSL.
Chelsea’s number nine, Sam Kerr was kept reasonably quiet by City’s backline and came closest after her effort clipped off the post.
City remain undefeated in 20 Women’s Super League home games and can leave with their heads held high despite only taking a point that on another day could easily have been three.
Spurs and West Ham pick up first points of the season
Embed from Getty ImagesVictories for both the Lilywhites and the Hammers against Bristol City and Brighton respectively will be greatly positive for both managers after defeat on the opening day.
Spurs were foiled until the half-hour mark as Olga Ahtinen beat Bristol City debutant Kaylan Marckese with a shot from outside the box. Five minutes later Marckese had a moment to forget when her clearance kick rebounded off Martha Thomas and into the back of her net.
Such dominance from Tottenham was rounded up after Eviliina Summanen’s free-kick in the third minute of added-time before the break gave City an uphill task and though Amalie Thestrup scored her second penalty in as many games, City left East London empty-handed.
Brighton’s recent dominance over West Ham came to an end with a 2-0 defeat in their first home game of the Women’s Super League season.
Goals in either half from Kirsty Smith and Riko Ueki helped West Ham to an impressive victory over Brighton, giving manager Rehanne Skinner’s her first victory at the club in a performance filled with energy and intensity.
However, despite their dominance Brighton came close after conceding the first goal as Elisabeth Terland, who scored both of Albion’s goals in a 2-1 win at Everton last weekend, had a powerful drive from just inside the area expertly saved by a diving Mackenzie Arnold.
With both sides on 3 points having played two games, either manager will be relatively happy and look to build on such momentum in order to each go one step further than season.
Foxes and Reds march on
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool’s impressive start to the Women’s Super League season continued with a hard-fought triumph over Aston Villa.
It was Marie Hobinger who was on hand to take advantage of the hosts’ early dominance, cutting inside and firing into the top corner after Villa failed to clear their lines midway through the first half.
With Aston Villa looking to reply swiftly, midfielder Emma Koivisto was called into action to produce a heroic headed goal line clearance to prevent Adriana Leon scoring from six yards.
Villa ramped up the pressure and the Reds were lucky to escape without conceding when goalkeeper Rachael Laws had to scramble back to thwart Villa substitute Ebony Salmon after a misplaced pass.
Nevertheless, the Reds weathered the visitors’ attacking storm and Natasha Flint doubled their advantage in the 77th minute, shooting home after Melissa Lawley found the striker inside the area. The result meant Liverpool are in second place with a perfect tally after their first two matches, while Villa are still pointless and sit alongside Bristol at the bottom of the table.
Likewise, the Foxes picked up their second successive win of the season despite a debatably dominating display from Everton who twice had the ball in the back of the net through Emma Bissell, only to be denied by the offside flag.
Numerous chances fell to the likes of Martina Piemonte and Lucy Hope, but a a lack of a cutting edge to the Toffees’ finishing mixed in with a stubborn Foxes defence meant the wait for the first league points of the season goes on.
The golden chance for a 1-0 lead however fell to Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet at the end of the first half who had her penalty saved by Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig spurring on the home side to eventually take all three points.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Leicester opened the scoring when Petermann slotted home from Sam Tierney’s pinpoint through ball.
The result sees Leicester sit on top of the table with their first tricky encounter against Manchester City beckoning on the 21st October.
