Having already clinched the Women’s Super League title and interrupted Chelsea Women’s six-fold-consecutive run of lifting that very trophy, Manchester City wanted to inflict more harm upon the only team that managed to beat them more than once this season. They were high in confidence as they did beat us to a pulp last time we met them.
This Chelsea is no longer the unstoppable (domestic) force of the previous season. It doesn’t mean cup competence has been lost from them. Lest we remember we were only a few baffling refereeing decisions away from beating Arsenal to a UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final spot.
Playing at home we didn’t dominate possession like we’re used to, but we did get the lion’s share of shots on goal. The first that went past Khiara Keating’s goal posts was wrongly called off for a line crossing that didn’t happen before Ellie Carpenter’s assist to Sam Kerr. They couldn’t pull the same trick on Erin Cuthbert’s shot to open the scoring for us.
Our opener did open City’s eyes a bit and they got a bit more aggressive with their advances. Despite all our faults throughout the season we managed to get some good answers in kind although we were at times frustratingly bad with our decision-making as entered the opposition’s box.
City needed to make up for the deficit with goals in the second half and they went for it right away. It did leave them exposed at the back and the Lauren James-Sam Kerr duo made sure to exploit it.
Hopes of getting a second shot at cup glory and a clean sheet to boot were quite high. At least up until the very end of the match when the Blues went back to usual form and allowed City to equalise, with Mary Fowler — who had just entered the pitch — and Bunny Shaw getting the goals City needed to make it all level.
The Blues managed to hold onto the tie but they didn’t look very comfortable doing it. It seemed as if we were in for a ride of an extra time, and Shaw would show why we’re willing to pay £1m/year to bring her over to Stamford Bridge.
- Sam Kerr upfront.
- We need to bring women’s football to modern refereeing times as soon as possible.
- Another showing of how coaching can make a difference in team results as Sonia Bompastor’s substituting decisions cost us the match today.
- Next up: Manchester United at home in the Women’s Super League — (now the) last match of the season.
- KTBFFH.