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

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