Manchester City have boosted their European qualification hopes with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at The Academy Stadium this afternoon.
After The Cityzens’ heartbreak in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup in midweek, Manchester City took revenge against a lacklustre Arsenal side, moving to within two points of Barclays Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea.
Despite Rafaelle Souza’s second half header for Arsenal, goals from wingers Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp in the first 45 minutes sealed the win for the hosts.
The Cityzens came out all guns blazing and they took the lead inside five minutes. Poor defending from Arsenal allowed Kelly to slip a pass into Hemp who was positioned just yards from goal. The number 11 latched onto Kelly’s pass before slotting her effort past Manuela Zinsberger to put her side ahead.
Manchester City were inches away from doubling their lead minutes later when Hemp drove the ball down the left. Her cross met Kelly, who struck the ball against the post, much to her frustration.
Arsenal were struggling to settle into the game and other than two edge of the box chances from captain Kim Little and her midfield teammate Frida Maanum, The Gunners didn’t create much more in the first half.
The hosts continued to knock on the door and it looked like they had their second goal when Khadija Shaw found herself one-on-one with Zinsberger but the Austrian international spread her body to make a remarkable save. Minutes later, the Arsenal keeper pushed away a curling effort from Filippa Angeldahl.
Manchester City grabbed a second goal before the break. Shaw stole the ball from Lotte Wubben-Moy and charged at goal. She fed the ball to Kelly who doubled her side’s lead.
Arsenal managed to settle into the game better in the second half and they were rewarded with a goal on the hour mark. Maanum played in a perfect free-kick and Souza headed the ball beyond Ellie Roebuck and into the Manchester City net.
Yui Hasegawa fancied her chances for the hosts as she shot from range but frustratingly, her effort ricocheted off the bar, with her strike being the closest that Manchester City came to scoring in the final 45 minutes of the game.
Both sides continued to search for further goals but Manchester City’s unstoppable first half performance was enough to overcome The Gunners and secure three important points in their quest for a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League next season.
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