Manchester City leapfrogged Arsenal into the WSL’s final Champions League spot with a 2-1 victory at the Academy Stadium on Saturday.
A combination of City being superb and Arsenal being dismal saw the hosts take a 2-0 half time lead thanks to goals from Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly.
The Gunners improved in the second and a Rafaelle header after an hour offered them a glimmer of hope. However, Jonas Eidevall’s side didn’t do enough to find an equaliser, and City ran out deserved winners.
Arsenal spent much of the opening exchanges in the City half, Frida Maanum fizzing an effort narrowly wide from range after winning the ball back on the edge of the City box. However, it would be a rare sighting of goal for the Gunners in an opening 45 that City dominated.
The hosts took the lead after just four minutes, Kelly’s teasing low cross poked home at the back post by Hemp after the Cityzens had regained possession on the edge of the Arsenal box.
The Gunners were frequently guilty of playing themselves into trouble, and City should have capitalised to double their advantage. Lotte Wubben-Moy gifted the ball to Bunny Shaw, but Manuela Zinsberger stood her ground to keep out the forward when one v one.
Leah Williamson was the culprit as Arsenal again shot themselves in the foot when attempting to play out from the back, but Kelly was denied by the feet of Zinsberger.
Fillipa Angeldahl saw a stinging strike from the edge of the box palmed away by the stretching Arsenal keeper, and Zinsberger was again on hand to come to her side’s rescue, staying on her feet to prevent Shaw from rounding her after the City striker had been played through by Kelly.
City deservedly added a second before the first half was out – and again Arsenal had no one but themselves to blame. Shaw dispossessed Wubben-Moy and charged towards goal, before putting it on a plate for Kelly to apply the finishing touch.
The Gunners made a pair of changes and reverted back to a back four at half time in an attempt to salvage something from the game. The impact was almost instant, Stina Blackstenius latching onto a superb ball in behind from Williamson and beating Steph Houghton for pace, before rattling the post.
Arsenal did halve the deficit just before the hour mark, Rafaelle rising unchallenged to head home Maanum’s free kick to set up an exciting final 30.
Yui Hasegawa cracked the crossbar with a rocket from the edge of the area, while Alex Greenwood made a superb last ditch tackle to keep out Gio Queiroz at…
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