Mary Fowler scored a dramatic ninety fifth minute winner to safe a 2-1 win as Manchester Metropolis dumped holders Arsenal out of the League Cup.
A powerful Metropolis begin was rewarded after 25 minutes when Vivianne Miedema collected the ball in her personal half and drove ahead earlier than taking part in in Fowler who fired powerfully previous a helpless Daphne van Domselaar.
Arsenal have been poor within the first half however got here out with some extent to show after the break and eventually had the Metropolis defence operating backwards and as Stina Blackstenius raced in on purpose, Rebecca Knaak dived and introduced her down. Mariona Caldentey stepped up cooly for the penalty, and positioned the ball into the underside proper nook, previous an outstretched Ayaka Yamashita after 56 minutes.
Fowler was fouled within the field minutes later however not like the weekend, had her penalty saved by van Domselaar. However Fowler made amends as she discovered the underside nook within the ninety fifth minute to interrupt Arsenal hearts.
The win means Metropolis will face Chelsea within the League Cup last on 15 March at Delight Park Stadium in Derby.
Right here’s 5 issues we realized from the sport:
Mary Fowler can carry the Metropolis assault
The Australian scored twice on the weekend and adopted it up with a match-winning brace to elevate her aspect to the League Cup last. With no Bunny Shaw within the Metropolis assault it was essential that the remainder of the assault stepped up – which Fowler took personally. Rifling the opener previous the Arsenal goalkeeper was only the start of an motion packed night for her.
Moments after Arsenal had scored from the spot, Fowler went down the opposite finish and earned a penalty of her personal. She had the boldness to step up and take it however regardless of lacking it at an important stage of the match, she didn’t shrink for the rest of the sport. With the sport headed for further time, the ahead grabbed maintain of the ball and the match, she shifted her weight and rolled the ball previous a wrong-footed van Domselaar to ship Metropolis to the ultimate.
No quick begin for the Gunners
Not like Sunday’s thriller, Arsenal didn’t get off the mark with the identical depth. They have been two-ahead inside eight minutes of the league match, however have been underneath the cosh within the opening exchanges of the cup conflict.
Kick-off was delayed by half-hour however Renee Slegers’ aspect nonetheless didn’t look prepared. Their sluggish begin was affected by passing errors as they tried to play out from the again, they usually have been out-pressed by Metropolis. The Residents gained extra confidence with every Arsenal mistake and the hosts have been ultimately made to pay for his or her sluggish begin.
Metropolis dominated the midfield battle, profitable the 50/50s and urgent extra successfully. They issued warnings by means of Kerolin Nicoli and Jill Roord earlier than Vivianne Miedema took maintain of the ball in her personal half and drove ahead, taking part in in Mary Fowler who scored emphatically.
‘The Arsenal means’
Slegers praised her aspect for enjoying ‘the Arsenal means’ following their weekend triumph. She characterised the fashion saying: “Passing is central, endurance is central, we need to drawback resolve, we need to press.”
Judging by the Gunners first half efficiency, you’d assume their GPS was not programmed appropriately, after a lacklustre 45 minutes..
Nevertheless, Slegers rerouted her crew at half-time they usually got here out flying with a want that was lacking earlier than the break. With the Meadow Park crowd behind them, they have been first to free balls and giving the Metropolis defence issues in behind by means of Blackstenius. Nevertheless, Arsenal quickly pale once more they usually did not create sufficient in assault to see themselves over the road.
The Dutch boss can be hoping ‘the Arsenal means’ will grow to be famend for performances just like the weekend somewhat than tonight’s.
Kerolin Nicoli is a livewire
The Brazilian signed late on within the switch window after sealing a transfer from Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League’s North Carolina Braveness. Going through up towards former teammate Emily Fox for the second time in per week, the brand new Metropolis winger supplied many complications for Fox, getting the higher of her on quite a few events, even hitting the publish from a cross early within the second half.
Metropolis followers can be delighted with the signing of the 2023 NWSL most beneficial participant and they’ll have loads of leisure forward with the ahead tied down in Manchester till 2028.
Well timed addition of Chloe Kelly
The deadline day signing was in attendance at Meadow Park and he or she would have been itching to get on to the pitch to assist her new aspect in assault. At instances tonight, Arsenal’s assault was crying out for somebody with the dynamism of Kelly. Having fought themselves again into the competition, the Gunners lacked the leading edge to discover a winner – an edge Kelly can add.
The issues Arsenal brought on the Metropolis defence within the second half would have excited the on-watching Kelly. The England worldwide arrives with 40 profession targets and a wealth of top-level expertise. She is going to be capable to add a brand new dimension to the Gunners assault and after issues turned bitter in blue, she can be wanting to point out she has lots left to supply. Her debut might are available Arsenal’s subsequent league match – the north London derby on the Emirates on February sixteenth.