Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.2 2021-22

One through but two go out…

Arsenal have gone through to the group stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League but
Manchester City and Glasgow City will not be joining them after exiting the competition at the
Second Round stage.
The Gunners were already 3-0 up from the first leg against Slavia Prague last week and
completed the job with a return 4-0 win in the Czech Republic to ensure that they, along with
Chelsea who were one of four exemptions, are in the last sixteen of the revamped tournament.
The game turned out to be a historic night for Dutch maestro Vivianne Miedema, who
opened the scoring after a goalless first half and went on to score a 12 minute hat-trick, her third
goal taking her to 100 in all competitions for Arsenal in a remarkable 110 games. Kim Little
rounded off a good night for her team when she scored their final goal, to complete a 7-0 aggregate
victory.
However it was disappointment for the other two British teams who were competing at this
stage as they were on the receiving end of home defeats after having drawn the away leg.
Manchester City tumbled out after a 1-0 home defeat to Real Madrid, after having conceded
a late equaliser in the first leg. The Cityzens were unable to make the most of their chances on the
night and succumbed when Claudia Zornoza Sanchez scored for Real, just before half time. City
could not get back on level terms and it is Real Madrid who take their place in the group stages at
the first attempt.
The result means that Manchester City have gone out of the competition to a Spanish team
for the fourth season in a row.
Glasgow City played host to Servette having also drawn 1-1 over in Switzerland through a
superb volley from Clare Shine. Things were looking good for the SWPL champions when Priscilla
Chinchilla broke through to give them the lead after fourteen minutes but a nightmare seven
minute spell either side of half time saw them concede twice. First, Jade Boho Sayo rifled home
following an indirect free kick in the area and then Sandy Maendly nodded home after Lee
Alexander had brilliantly saved Boho Sayo’s initial shot. City pressed hard afterwards but Servette
stood firm and the task was too much for Grant Scott’s side who could not find another
breakthrough and narrowly missed out.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea will learn who their group opponents will be when the draw for
that stage is made at UEFA Headquarters on Monday.
Emily to play for Blades

Sheffield United Women are delighted to announce the signing
of attacking midfielder Emily Syme from Barclays FA Women's
Super League side Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal.
The 21-year-old creative midfielder can also play in
attack and adds extra quality to Neil Redfearn's Blades'
attacking options ahead of this Sunday's first home league
game of the season against Durham.
Syme made her top-level debut for Bristol City as a
16-year-old back in 2017, before joining Yeovil Town, after a
brief spell at Bishop's Lydeard, where she played regularly for
a season in the FA WSL in the 2018-19 campaign.
The former England under-21 international then dropped down to play for Aston Villa in
the FA Women's Championship in 2019, playing 14 league games as the Villans won promotion to
the FA WSL ahead of the Blades.
Syme played eight more games in the FA WSL last season and at just 21, has plenty of room
to develop but also already has gained a wealth of experience at the top level.
Syme said: "I'm very excited. I've had a bit of a tour, it all looks very good, I'm very excited
to be here and I can't wait to get started.
"I think it's a very ambitious club, it wants to compete in the league and competition is what
will make everyone around here better."
Issue no. 2 - 9 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk