Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.10 2021-22
P. 4

Arsenal and Chelsea reach Final

       Chelsea will play Arsenal in the 2020-21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday 5 December at
       Wembley Stadium after both teams came through their respective semi finals with 3-0 victories.
            Chelsea were first in action in the double header, taking on holders Manchester City at the
       Academy Stadium. It was the fifth time in seven years that the two clubs met each other at the semi
       final stage and, peculiarly, they have never come face to face in the Final.
            Although Manchester City started strongly in front of their own fans, Chelsea  always looked
       the more threatening side and took a firm grip on the tie with a quickfire double midway through
       the first half.
            The opener came from Erin Cuthbert, who received a quick corner from Guro Reiten in her
       stride with an excellent first touch, and she thumped a powerful finish past Karima Taieb at the
       near post.
            Five minutes later, it was two, as Melanie Leupolz cut in from the right hand side and struck
       a low shot with her left foot that Taieb got two hands to but could only push into the back of the
       net.
            With  an  injury-hit  side  on  the  pitch,  it  was  always  going  to  be  an  uphill  struggle  for
       Manchester City and the Blues always looked more likely to score next, as Taieb made up for her
       earlier error with a series of fine saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
            However, there was nothing she could do to prevent substitute Beth England from making
       it 3-0 in the closing stages, as Jessie Fleming sent in a peach of a cross for the striker to power
       home a header that put the seal on a good day’s work for her side.
       Manchester City: Karima Taieb, Janine Beckie, Jill Scott, Alex Greenwood, Lauta Coombs, Keira
       Walsh, Caroline Weir, Ellen White, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp. Subs: Jess Park, Vicky Losada,
       Filippa Angeldahl, Hayley Raso, Grace Pilling.
       Chelsea: Ann-Katrin Berger, Millie Bright, Aniek Nouwen, Magdalena Eriksson, Jess Carter,
       Sophie Ingle, Melanie Leupolz, Guro Reiten, Erin Cuthbert, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby. Subs: Beth
       England,  Drew  Spence,  Jessie  Fleming,  Niamh  Charles,  Zecira  Musovic,  Ji  So-Yun,  Lauren
       James, Jonna Andersson, Jorja Fox.
            Arsenal  were  next  to  book  their  place  in  the  Final  with  a  convincing  3-0  victory  over
       Brighton & Hove Albion at Meadow Park.
            Sitting deep in their own half, Brighton - playing in a semi final for the first time in their
       history - allowed us little space to attack throughout the opening exchanges, before Caitlin Foord
       came close to scoring twice in quick succession.
            With Brighton keeping things tight at the back, the scoreline was goalless at half time, but
       Arsenal were to make the breakthrough shortly after the restart.
            After a fantastic couple of games with England, Beth Mead took her form into her club side
       and after a strong run down the left before finding Kim Little in the area, where the midfielder took
       a touch before sliding past Megan Walsh for the opening goal.
            Before the Seagulls were able to fully recover, Arsenal were two ahead and it was no surprise
       that it came from Mead who, after exchanging passes with Jordan Nobbs, cut inside and planted a
       low shot into the far corner of the net.
            Mead was to turn provider once again for the third, this time her corner was headed in at
       the far post by Leah Williamson.
       Arsenal: Manuela Zinsberger, Noelle Maritz, Leah Williamson, Jennifer Beattie, Katie McCabe,
       Lia  Walti,  Jordan  Nobbs,  Kim  Little,  Nikita  Parris,  Caitlin  Foord,  Beth  Mead.  Subs:  Lydia
       Williams, Hermione Cull, Teyah Goldie, Anna Patten, Simone Boye Sorensen, Mana Iwabuchi,
       Frida Maanum, Halle Houssein, Alex Hennessy.
       Brighton & Hove Albion: Megan Walsh, Fliss Gibbons, Danique Kerkdijk, Maya Le Tissier, Aileen
       Whelan, Megan Connolly, Inessa Kaagman, Kayleigh Green, Danielle Carter, Emily Simpkins,
       Victoria Williams. Subs: Frances Angel, Emma Koivisto, Lee Geum-Min, Rinsola Babajide, Libby
       Bance, Ellie Brazil, Katie Robinson, Maisie Symonds.
        Issue no. 10 - 4 November 2021         news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9