MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 2, CHELSEA LADIES 2
Manchester City’s Women’s side came from behind to secure a draw to keep pace with WSL1 league leaders Chelsea Ladies after they had taken a deserved 2-0 lead at the Academy Stadium.
Early goals by Millie Bright and Ji So-Yun put the dominant visitors into the lead and while City made crucial second half changes and managed to pull one back early in the second half through Nikita Parris they struggled against their visitors until the 86th minute when a stunning equaliser from substitute Georgia Stanway kept the WSL title race in the balance.
There was a home debut for Julia Spetsmark in midfield, one of two changes from the defeat at Birmingham City Ladies on Wednesday as Nadia Nadim came back into the side while Claire Emslie and Georgia Stanway stepped down to the bench for the crucial top of the table clash against Chelsea.
Jill Scott was given a presentation on reaching 100 appearances for City who lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Keira Walsh anchoring midfield, Nikita Parris patrolling the right flank and Spetsmark on the left.
It was vital that City retook control of WSL1 after Chelsea came to Manchester aiming to extend a 1 point lead at the top of the table going into today’s match but the home side were starting to feel the absence of injured captain Steph Houghton after a poor week.
City were certainly stretched early on by Chelsea and fell behind when Millie Bright scored the opening goal for the visitors after just six minutes, smashing the loose ball past Ellie Roebuck after Drew Spence’s shot had been charged down.
Chelsea doubled their lead on 24 minutes when Crystal Dunn teed up Ji So-Yun for a tap-in and City could have been three down a minute later but Fran Kirby’s shot was brilliantly saved by Ellie Roebuck.
City’s first decent chance came from a close range effort by Nikita Parris which was saved by Hedvig Lindahl while Jill Scott’s follow-up was deflected away.
Dunn found Kirby whose shot was blocked by Abbie McManus as Chelsea continued to swarm all over City with shots by Ramona Bachmann and Kirby blocked, saved by Roebuck, or narrowly wide.
Second half changes for Man City Women save them a crucial point against Chelsea Ladies
City brought on Claire Emslie for Spetsmark at the break and started the second period on the front foot but Chelsea could have been 3-0 up four minutes into the second half when Chelsea counter attacked and Kirby found Bachmann only for Roebuck to make the save.
Demi Stokes had been pushing forward throughout the game without much success but she found Nikita Parris with a cross which her team mate nodded home to reduce the deficit.
Chelsea remained on top, though, and hemmed City in for long periods after Parris’ goal as the home team continued to struggle with their visitors with Bachmann proving a danger from long distance as well as closer up – forcing a diving save out of Roebuck after 64 minutes.
Izzy Christiansen was replaced by Georgia Stanway a minute later as Nick Cushing tried to inject more energy into City’s play.
But dominant Chelsea responded with a corner by Magda Eriksson which was headed over the bar by Bright while Kirby slid in Dunn who blazed over from 7 yards out.
City only threatened sporadically, with Stanway’s attempted rocket not really testing Lindahl while Parris drove a late effort wide of the back post.
Jane Ross replaced Nadim in the last ten minutes as City’s final throw of the dice.
Chelsea, however, continued to carve out the better chances towards the end of the game having increasingly targeted Morgan’s flank and Erin Cuthbert drew a great save out of Roebuck five minutes from the end.
Sensing victory, Chelsea withdrew Kirby and put on a defender but there was late drama in the end as Stanway tried again from distance and fired in the equaliser and the youngster could have fired in a surprise winner in the last minute as City kept pace with Chelsea.
MATCH STATS
Man City Women: Roebuck, Morgan, McManus, Beattie, Stokes, Walsh, Spetsmark (Emslie 46), Scott, Christiansen (Stanway 66), Parris, Nadim (Ross 80)
Man City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Jans, Lawley, Toone
Goals: Parris 49, Stanway 86
Chelsea Ladies: Lindahl, Blundell, Bright, Asante, Ji, Kirby (Thorisdottir 83), Eriksson, Mjelde, Dunn, Bachmann (Aluko 90+2), Spence (Cuthbert 56)
Chelsea Ladies Subs not used: Thorisdottir, Davison, Carney, Andersson, Telford
Goals: Bright 6, Ji 24
Booked: Ji 80
Attendance: 1,417