Report: Manchester City 4-2 Arsenal Women

We lost 4-2 against Manchester City in the Women’s Super League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Lisa Baum’s late first-half strike had us ahead, only for Lauren Hemp to reduce the arrears moments later.

Alessia Russo emphatically fired us back into the lead shortly after the break, but City equalised again by way of Kerstin Casparij.

Lauren Hemp made it 3-2 before Khadija Shaw secured the three points for City late on.

NOT MUCH BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES

An early Lisa Baum cross was tipped into the side netting by Ayaka Yamashita, before Alex Greenwood’s corner was headed wide at the near post by Beth Mead at the other end.

Baum’s next cross from the right was headed down straight into Yamashita’s gloves by Mariona Caldentey, and it was her delivery that was then headed wide by Lotte Wubben-Moy.

In the 25th minute, Shaw got past Leah Williamson and Wubben-Moy before going for goal, but Anneke Borbe was equal to it.

The next chance also fell to City,  Carlotta Wamser’s cross headed in by Shaw, who fouled Borbe in the process for an Arsenal free-kick.

We came closest to breaking the deadlock when Georgia Stanway sent the ball out right to Emily Fox, who plucked it out of the air before aiming for the bottom left corner, but Yamashita got down to her right to make a good save. The following corner came out to Stanway, who dragged her low effort into the side netting.

GOALS AT EITHER END

We did find a way through on the brink of half-time as Russo’s cross was headed back across goal by Wubben-Moy and Yamashita got a hand to it, but could only push the ball onto Baum and across the line for 1-0 to The Arsenal.

But our lead would only last a few minutes as City pulled one back in added time, working the ball out left to Hemp in the 18-yard box, and her powerful shot was deflected into the back of the net for 1-1.

Mariona appeared to go down injured in the aftermath and had to leave the pitch before the half-time whistle, as she was replaced by Caitlin Foord.

PUNISHING THE HOSTS

City ought to have gone 2-1 up four minutes into the second half when Aoba Fujino slotted Shaw through on goal, but she couldn’t even get a shot away as Borbe timed her approach perfectly to retrieve possession.

One minute later, that wasted opportunity became even more painful for the home side as we restored our lead. Russo struck the ball with pace and power into the top right for 2-1 after Foord put pressure on to force Yui Hasegawa to give away possession.

GOALS KEEP COMING

In response, Mead drifted in from the right and curled high of the top left on her left foot, but our lead would be short-lived again, as the ball dropped to Casparij just outside the area and she curled it past Borbe for 2-2.

Shortly after, Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith came on for Stanway and Baum, but it was City who went ahead for the first time in the game in the 72nd minute as a cross from the right went all the way to Hemp, who slotted it in for 3-2.

Smith had the ball in a promising position moments later following a nice one-two with Fox, but the former’s shot from a narrow angle was too central to trouble Yamashita.

Renée Slegers made another attacking change with nine minutes left on the clock as Selina Cerci and Smilla Holmberg replaced Ona Batlle and Fox.

But the game was effectively put to bed in the 84th minute as Shaw made no mistake with her next attempt to give City a two-goal lead.

WHAT'S NEXT

It's time for the first international break of the season, with plenty of our players heading off to represent their countries in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers and friendlies.

Then, WSL football returns to Emirates Stadium with the visit of Birmingham City at 12.45pm on Saturday, October 17, which tickets are on general sale for. That's followed by the first north London derby of the season at 12.45pm on Saturday, October 24 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Get your tickets .