City edged out by injury time Chelsea winner
An injury time Erin Cuthbert header saw City slip to a frustrating 2-1 Barclays Women’s Super League defeat to Chelsea at the Etihad.
Kerolin Nicoli had struck on 32 minutes to give City a deserved first half advantage with Yui Hasegawa also hitting the bar with a free-kick after a Jess Park effort had been ruled out for a foul on Kerolin.
However, the visitors hit back after the break, drawing level on 49 minutes through Aggie Beever-Jones with City keeper Khiara Keating also producing a series of outstanding saves to seemingly deny the league leaders.
But just when it looked as if the spoils would be shared, Chelsea struck at the death, substitute Cuthbert heading home from close range as she met Ashley Lawrence’s pinpoint cross to claim all three points for the visitors.
What happened
City came into the fixture seeking to build on the feel-good factor from a huge Champions League quarter-final first-leg win last Wednesday night.
Given the demands and intensity of that game, each side had opted to freshen things up, City making four changes and Chelsea five.
But there was no let-up in the quality and desire of two of the English women’s game genuine powerhouses.
And it was Nick Cushing’s side who carved out the game’s first real opportunity on nine minutes.
An incisive first-time pass from Jill Roord put the ever-dangerous Kerolin in behind Chelsea left-back Niamh Charles and bearing down on keeper Hannah Hampton.
Though the Brazilian got her shot in on goal, the Chelsea keeper was able to narrow the angle and deflect the ball behind with a smart save from close range.
It was the hosts who looked the brighter and more inventive side across the first half hour, though City were indebted on 25 minutes when Oriane Jean-Francois blazed a 20-yard shot over the bar after Cushing’s side had only partially cleared a corner.
It was City though who looked the leaner, meaner side and it was no less than the hosts deserved when we took the lead on 32 minutes through live wire Kerolin.
Picking up the ball on the right edge of the Chelsea box, the danger initially looked to have subsided as Millie Bright sought to check the Brazilian’s run at goal.
Kerolin, though, spotted a gap to the right of Hampton and nonchalantly despatched a cute finish into the corner of the net to light the Etihad Blue touch paper.
Buoyed by that breakthrough Cushing’s side powered forward again almost instantly with Hampton having to be alert to smother a Kerstin Casperij drive.
City then had the ball in the Chelsea net again on 41 minutes when a wonderful Park drive curled over Hampton into the top right corner of the goal – but referee Kirsty Dowle had already blown for a Bright foul on Kerolin seconds before.
Just to add to City’s frustration, from the resulting free-kick, Hasegawa slammed a 22-yard effort onto the bar.
It was wave upon wave of City attacks with Laura Coombs the next to go agonisingly close after Kerolin had breached the Chelsea back line yet again before supplying an inviting cross which the midfielder sent just wide.
Chelsea however came out after the break with a renewed sense of purpose and intensity and drew level on 49 minutes through Beever-Jones.
Wieke Kaptein found Johanna Rytting-Kaneyrd with a searching pass down the right flank and the Chelsea player showed great awareness to bypass a Gracie Prior challenge before cutting inside to Beever-Jones.
There was still work to do but the forward executed a fine finish that beat Khiara Keating and levelled affairs.
It was a shot in the arm for the visitors and Keating then earned her spurs on 54 minutes by producing a terrific save to deny Kaptein’s well-struck shot from 15 yards.
City were then relieved to see a stinging Kaneryd drive slice wide of the back post.
Keating was then there again on the hour to deny Chelsea when they looked sure to take the lead after a quickfire counter created space and time for Kaneryd whose shot was somehow forced wide by the City keeper.
Vivianne Miedema then came to City’s rescue, producing a crucial goal-line clearance to keep our substitute Erin Cuthbert’s goal-bound drive before Keating produced another moment of magic to somehow deny Kaptein.
Having weathered that storm, City sought to regain the upper hand and a fine Casperij burst caused havoc in the visitors' box on 71 minutes with both Miedema and subtitute Mary Fowler so close to connecting.
Kerolin then unleashed another fierce shot on goal as City sought to regain the advantage.
But Keating produced yet more heroics three minutes from time diving low to her left to somehow tip a Lauren James effort behind.
However, in the first minute of injury time Chelsea did breach the City backline, substitute Cuthbert ghosting in to meet Lawrence's teasing cross and snatch victory for Sonia Bompastor's side.
How we lined up
Khiara Keating was back in goal for what was her first start since last month’s league clash at home to Arsenal and was shielded by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Gracie Prior, skipper Laia Aleixandri and Naomi Layzell.
Yui Hasegawa was deployed as City’s holding midfielder with Jill Roord and Laura Coombs also lining up in the engine room.
Vivianne Miedema returned as the focal point of City’s attacking trident with Kerolin Nicoli and Jess Park also deployed up front on either flank.
CITY XI: Keating, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C) (Wienroither 75), Layzell, Hasegawa (Murphy 75), Roord, Coombs (Fowler 58), Kerolin Nicoli, Park (Ouahabi 88), Miedema.
Subs: Annets, Startup, Oyama, Davies.
CHELSEA: Hampton, Bright, James, Lawrence, Kaptein (Macario 87), Rytting-Koneryd (Fishel 87), Charles, Bronze, Hamano (Cuthbert 56), Jean-Francois (Walsh 62), Beever-Jones (Ramirez 62)
Subs: Nusken, , Bjorn, Baltimore, Spencer
What it means
The defeat sees City remain in fourth place in the table.
We have 32 points from 17 games, third placed United – who visit Aston Villa later this afternoon – currently have 36 points but have played a game less.
Chelsea still lead the way with 47 points from 17 games while Arsenal lie second having claimed 39 points also from 17 games.
What’s next
City and Chelsea conclude our spell of four consecutive meetings on Thursday night when the action switches to Stamford Bridge.
The sides will contest the second and deciding leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final with City holding that all important 2-0 lead after last Thursday’s first leg encounter.
Kick-off in London is slated for 20.00 (UK).
-
Cuthbert's header snatches victory for Chelsea at Man City
Substitute Erin Cuthbert gets on the end of Ashley Lawrence's cross with a brilliant diving header in second-half stoppage time to give Chelsea a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women's Super ...BBC News - 2d -
City v Chelsea: Barclays Women’s Super League match preview
All the information you need ahead of our Barclays Women’s Super League clash with Chelsea.When and WhereCity go head-to-head with Sonia Bompastor’s side following our UEFA Champions league meetin...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Valiant City edged out in League Cup final
Manchester City’s gutsy League Cup final display proved to be in vain as we were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea.Mayra Ramirez grabbed the opener inside eight minutes when she bundled home Chelsea’s first r...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as visitors dealt first defeat of season
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea: Vivianne Miedema struck twice off the bench to secure a first-leg advantageYahoo Sports - 5d -
Barca eye Women's Champions League semis, City hand Chelsea first defeat of season
Barcelona are on track for the last four of the Women's Champions League after the holders routed Wolfsburg 4-1, while Manchester City's 2-0 win handed Chelsea their first defeat this season in ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea: Women’s Super League – live reaction
The two clubs clash again in the third of four meetings Any thoughts? You can email Daniel with them Millie Bright says Chelsea didn’t turn up in that and they were really disappointed by ...The Guardian - 2d -
Chelsea edge past Man City to win League Cup
Chelsea edge past Manchester City in the Women's League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.BBC News - Mar. 15 -
🏆 Chelsea overcome Man City to lift Women's League Cup trophy
See Lionesses stars in action! Tickets for the WSL clash between Manchester City and Chelsea are on sale now!Chelsea came back to win 2-1 against Manchester City to lift the Women's League Cup at ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Chelsea and Man City face each other four times in a row this month – how will it affect their gameplans?
On Saturday, Manchester City and Chelsea played each other in the League Cup final, a match Chelsea won 2-1. On Wednesday, City and Chelsea will play the first leg of their Champions League ...Yahoo Sports - 6d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Raiders sign former Panthers veteran starting TE
Tuesday the Raiders added some depth to the tight end room with the addition of longtime Panthers TE Ian Thomas.Yahoo Sports - 55m -
NFL free agency: Are the Vikings leaving the door open for Aaron Rodgers?
Look, it's March. We're months away from kickoff, and there's plenty of time for J.J. McCarthy to earn the QB1 job he says he hasn't been told is his. But Minnesota isn't exactly slamming the door ...Yahoo Sports - 56m -
Doc Rivers is demanding more credit for blowing 3-1 leads in the playoffs
You can't blow a 3-1 lead if you don't win three games in the first place, I guess?Yahoo Sports - 57m -
Doc Rivers is demanding more credit for blowing 3-1 leads in the playoffs
You can't blow a 3-1 lead if you don't win three games in the first place, I guess?Yahoo Sports - 57m -
Stingrays' Bjorklund Reassigned To Hershey
The South Carolina Stingrays announced Tuesday that goaltender Garin Bjorklund has been re-assigned from South Carolina to the Hershey Bears.Yahoo Sports - 58m
More in Sports
-
Testing begins at Cortina's controversial Olympic sliding track for bobsled, luge
Tests are underway at Cortina’s controversial Olympic sliding trackABC News - 51m -
Testing begins at Cortina's controversial Olympic sliding track for bobsled, luge
Tests are underway at Cortina’s controversial Olympic sliding trackABC News - 51m -
Shiffrin steadily overcoming PTSD after crash, focus on slalom at World Cup finals
Mikaela Shiffrin’s flashbacks to her November crash in the giant slalom are happening less and less when she’s trainingABC News - 51m -
Shiffrin steadily overcoming PTSD after crash, focus on slalom at World Cup finals
Mikaela Shiffrin’s flashbacks to her November crash in the giant slalom are happening less and less when she’s trainingABC News - 51m -
Raiders sign former Panthers veteran starting TE
Tuesday the Raiders added some depth to the tight end room with the addition of longtime Panthers TE Ian Thomas.Yahoo Sports - 55m