November 6, 2023
We secured a massive statement victory in the Barclays Women's Super League against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Our first game back at Meadow Park this season saw goals from both Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius as we moved up the WSL table to go level on points with City.
What happened
Jonas Eidevall made two changes to the starting XI from our last WSL match against Bristol City, with Amanda Ilestedt and Cloe Lacasse stepping in.
It was a frantic start to proceedings at both ends and in the first of several huge defensive interventions, Ilestedt denied an early chance from Bunny Shaw with a perfectly-timed sliding block.
We weathered an early spell of pressure from the visitors with solid defensive work from our backline, led by Lotte Wubben-Moy, before turning up the pressure in Manchester City's half.
It was Steph Catley who opened the scoring in style with our first shot on goal. Our two Aussies combined for the goal - Caitlin Foord holding the ball up nicely at the edge of the area before unlocking Catley, who decisively smashed the ball into the top right corner.
We were then given a penalty after Cloe Lacasse did incredibly well to get a foot to a spilt ball in the area and Khiara Keating subsequently sent her tumbling. Kim Little stepped up to take the spot-kick but the City goalkeeper redeemed her earlier foul with a great save, pushing our skipper's well-placed shot onto the post.
Caitlin Foord came agonisingly close to doubling our lead just a few minutes later with a fantastic turn and shot, but Keating leapt to save the curling effort.
Our Gunners continued to grow into the half with confidence, forcing the visitors to clear a host of threatening corner kicks and we headed down the tunnel one goal to the good.
However, Gareth Taylor's side started the second half in the ascendancy as they searched for a way back into the game. Bunny Shaw had their best chance on the hour mark, hitting the post with a jumping header.
England's Chloe Kelly did find that inevitable equaliser for City in the 72nd minute. After a clearance ricocheted back into the box to fall at the feet of Shaw, Kelly was able to hit home from very close range.
But our Gunners weren't out yet. Katie McCabe floated a beautiful pass from deep in our own half and as Keating rushed out of her box to clear, substitute Stina Blackstenius pounced. She rounded the City keeper and placed the ball into the empty net to give us a well-deserved victory.
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