Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.31 2022-23

Wembley Stadium connected by EE is set to host the biggest ever Vitality Women’s FA Cup
Final, with tickets in all areas of the stadium now sold out.
The Final, which will be contested by holders Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday
14th May, is set to pass the record set last season of 49,094, where Chelsea defeated Manchester
City 3-2 in a closely contested encounter.
The women’s professional game in England has seen a significant uplift following the
Lionesses’ memorable UEFA Women’s EURO victory, with numerous attendance records
broken over the season in the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s
Championship. Fans now have the opportunity to help create another memorable moment for
the season by helping to break another record.
Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s Director of Women’s Football, said: “We had a strategic
ambition to sell out the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium by 2024, so to have
done that a year early is a fantastic achievement.
“Those fans lucky enough to have a ticket, should be treated to a brilliant spectacle as well
as having the opportunity to be part of Women’s FA Cup Final history. It’s always one of my
favourite days of the season and a showcase of the best women’s football. I can’t wait to see a
packed stadium and hear the atmosphere the fans generate with the world watching on.”
The Final will kick off at 2.30pm and will be live on BBC One.

Arsenal bowed out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League when a late goal in extra time
condemned them to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of VfL Wolfsburg in front of a record breaking
sellout crowd of 60,063 at the Emirates Stadium.
There was an early scare for Arsenal when Wolfsburg appealed against a possible handball
by Lotte Wubben-Moy but a VAR check dismissed the appeals. Shortly after, the Gunners took
the lead as a searching Lia Walti pass was latched onto by Stina Blackstenius, who took the ball
past the oncoming Merle Frohms and scored.
Blackstenius forced a good save from Frohms as Arsenal sought a second but just before
half time, a Wolfsburg setpiece was touched on to Jill Roord and the former Arsenal striker
slotted home an equaliser beyond the reach of Manuela Zinsberger.
Arsenal thought they had gone back in front when Blackstenius finished off a great move
but once again VAR intervened, ruling out the strike for offside. Wolfsburg then took the lead
for the first time on the night shortly after the hour mark. Felicitas Rauch crossed into the
penalty area from a corner and Alexandra Popp was lurking at the near post to head past
Zinsberger.
Arsenal were not finished though and with fifteen minutes left, Wubben-Moy and
Jennifer Beattie combined inside the penalty area with Beattie climbing highest to head the ball
into the bottom left corner, levelling the match at 2-2 and taking the tie into extra time.
However yet another injury disaster was to strike the Gunners before the end. Already
shorn of four key players - Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Kim Little and Leah Williamson -
they then lost Laura Wienroither, who had only been on the pitch for eighteen minutes, with the
fourth ACL injury suffered by an Arsenal player this season.
Eidevall's side continued to push forward in search of a winner and came close with some
promising attacking moves, but after battling so hard and fighting for every loose ball, Wubben-
Moy was robbed of possession by Jule Brand and Pauline Bremer was on hand to convert at the
far post.
There was no time for Arsenal to respond and they joined Chelsea in going out at the semi
final stage.
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk