Arsenal 2-1 Man City: Khiara Keating’s error hands hosts a precious win in the Women’s Super League… as Gareth Taylor’s side see their unbeaten start to the season come to an …
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There will have been little sorrow in the Arsenal and Manchester City camps when they heard the news that Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will depart at the end of the season for the United States.
Both of these clubs have spent the last four years trying and failing to end the Blues’ domination of the Women’s Super League.
Hayes’ exit will bring uncertainty to a club that has been so stable for the last 11 years.
Arsenal and City should be rubbing their hands at that prospect, but they will also be desperate to ensure Hayes is not allowed to leave with yet more trophies to her name.
Arsenal had started the day six points behind Chelsea but that margin is now down to three thanks to goals from Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius.
Stina Blackstenius wheels away in celebration after firing Arsenal to victory against Man City
City goalkeeper Khiara Keating was left distraught at her costly late error which led to the goal
City had got themselves back into the game after going behind in the first half, with Chloe Kelly firing in an equaliser in the 72nd minute. But a goalkeeping error from Khiara Keating gifted Arsenal victory.
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, McCabe, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, Catley (Beattie 90), Walti, Pelova (Mead 60), Lacasse (Maanum 60), Little, Foord (Maritz 90), Russo
Subs not used: Miedema, D’Angelo, Hurtig, Cooney-Cross
Booked: Walti, Pelova, Lacasse, Foord
Goals: Catley 14, Blackstenius 87
Manager: Jonas Eidevall
Manchester City (4-3-3): Keating, Morgan (Casparij 61), Kennedy, Aleixandri, Ouahabi (Blakstad 61), Hasegawa, Roord, Fowler, Kelly (Park 89), Hemp (Castellanos 89), Shaw
Subs not used: MacIver, Houghton, Coombs, Angeldahl, Mace
Booked: Hemp, Keating, Ouahabi
Goals: Kelly 72
Manager: Gareth Taylor
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Attendance: 3,453
City boss Gareth Taylor, who joined City in 2020, is the next longest serving WSL manager after Hayes.
He has won an FA Cup and a League Cup but the WSL title has evaded him. Fail to win it this season and he may not get another chance.
City dominated the opening stages but a mistake at the back saw Arsenal take the lead in the 14th minute.
Keating’s clearance went straight to Victoria Pelova, who fed Caitlin Foord.
She held off Esme Morgan to tee up an unmarked Catley to fire into the top right corner.
It threatened to get worse for City when Arsenal were awarded a penalty five minutes later.
Morgan’s under-hit back pass was pounced on by Chloe Lacasse, who was brought down by Keating in the area.
But the goalkeeper redeemed herself with a fantastic save to keep out Kim Little’s spot-kick.
City improved in the second half and should have been level when Hemp picked out Bunny Shaw in the box, but the forward could only send a header against the post.
The visitor’s persistence finally paid off when Kelly fired in an equaliser. Hemp’s cut-back found Julie Blakstad, whose shot was blocked.
Frida Maanum’s clearance was charged down by Mary Fowler and the ball dropped for Kelly, who finished past Zinsberger.
But City’s hard work was undone late on as Keating misjudged the flight of Katie McCabe’s long pass.
The ball sailed over her head, leaving Blackstenius an empty net to finish into.
England international Chloe Kelly (right) looked to have secured a point for Manchester City
Jonas Eidevall’s side earlier missed a penalty but they punished a rare mistake from Keating
The goalkeeper was consoled by team-mates as City’s unbeaten WSL start came to an end
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