Manchester City will meet Chelsea in the Subway Women’s League Cup final after beating Arsenal at Meadow Park.
A few days after losing to the Gunners in the league, City got their revenge. Mary Fowler put them ahead in the 26th minute but Mariona Caldentey equalised with a penalty in the second half. It looked as though the tie would go to extra time , with Fowler having a penalty of her own saved by Daphne van Domselaar later. However, the Australian found the net from just outside the box in stoppage time, sealing a dramatic victory for City.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Though Renée Slegers made just one change from the weekend’s team, replacing Beth Mead with Lia Wälti, Gareth Taylor switched things up more by introducing Kerolin and Naomi Layzell, as well as Ayaka Yamashita in goal.. City were without Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw after she withdrew to protect her wellbeing having suffered racist and misogynistic abuse following Sunday’s match. The club have pledged their full support and said the content has been shared with the authorities.
Kickoff was pushed back after medical staff were delayed, but once play eventually got underway both sides experienced a frantic start to the game. Manchester City had the more promising start, forcing Daphne van Domselaar into a series of impressive saves.
Former Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema ignited their breakthrough on her return to her old stomping ground. She drove through the middle on a counterattack before passing the ball to Mary Fowler, who fired it beyond Van Domselaar in the 26th minute to put City in front.
Arsenal managed to prevent further damage in the first half and emerged from the break revitalised. Lotte Wubben-Moy impressed with an excellent run from Arsenal’s defensive third but just about lifted her effort over Ayaka Yamashita’s goal. They would need help from their opponents to level the score.
Embed from Getty ImagesJust before the hour mark, they were gifted an opportunity. City defender Rebecca Knaak clipped Stina Blackstenius in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Mariona Caldentey stepped up and though Yamashita diuved the right way, Caldentey’s effort was beyond her reach and Arsenal were level.
Less than two minutes later, all their hard work was almost undone. Fowler went down in the area between Kyra Cooney-Cross and Wubben-Moy, giving City a penalty of their own. However, the Aussie’s spot-kick was straight down the middle and Van Domselaar stood her ground to tip it away for a corner.
Two penalties in two minutes certainly opened up the game, but neither side could find a winner. Jill Roord’s free header in the 90th minute sailed wide for City, and the tie looked certain to go to extra time. However, Fowler made up for her penalty error by converting a far harder chance. Teed up by Roord just outside the box, she fired low and hard; Van Domselaar spotted it a moment too late and it nestled in the bottom corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesSlegers will have to wait for her first trophy in charge of Arsenal, while Fowler returns to Manchester a hero. City will meet Chelsea, who beat West Ham in their semifinal on Wednesday, in the final in at Derby’s Pride Park on 15th March.
The lineups
ARS: Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Catley; Wälti, Cooney-Cross, Maanum; Russo, Blackstenius, Caldentey
MCI: Yamashita; Casparij, Knaak, Aleixandri, Layzell; Hasegawa, Roord, Miedema; Kerolin, Fowler, Fujino
