Honours even as top two go toe to toe
CAUTIOUS HAYES SEES 3-3 DRAW AS ‘POINT GAINED’ IN TITLE RACE
CHELSEA Ladies and Manchester City served up a footballing treat as the Women’s Super League’s toptwo sides shared six goals in a thriller at The Academy Stadium.
With England manager Phil Neville watching, Chelsea maintained their unbeaten league record but current leaders City gave it everything, and missed a penalty.
Despite the cold and blustery conditions, both sides produced a first half of extremely high quality football – and Chelsea boss Emma Hayes praised both teams for their effort.
“This is the longest chunk of the season with no break, so it’s tough for the players – we have to recognise that they are human,” she said.
“You can ask everything of them, but they also have emotions and I thought that was a game played with lots of emotion from both teams.
“Man City did everything to win the game – they were at home.
“For us, we were desperate to prove ourselves, and as a result of that it was more of a basketball match than a chess match.
“I can’t say we’re in the driving seat after what I’ve just watched – I’ve been here too many times to know that’s not the case.
“I’ve lost a title on the last day on the last game in the last moments to two goals, so there’s never complacency from me in terms of those things.
“I really do think it’s a point gained today, though.”
There were terrific chances at either end and Ellen White gave City the lead when clipping in Janine Beckie’s low cross from the edge of the six-yard box.
The Blues evened it up six minutes before the break, midfielder Ji So-yun pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the City box before chesting it down and smashing home brilliantly past Ellie Roebuck.
The City keeper was called into action early in the second period as she bravely kept out Beth England’s close-range volley, before the hosts roared back into the lead on the hour mark.
Latching on to Demi Stokes’ long ball forward, Georgia Stanway charged down the left before clinically drilling the 2,000th FA WSL goal past Ann-Katrin Berger.
Magdalena Eriksson swiftly equalised with a header after meeting England’s flick-on, before City fluffed a penalty chance when Berger saved Stanway’s spot-kick after Caroline Weir had been felled by Sophie Ingle.
It looked all over when England fired Chelsea ahead with a 74thminute stunner, only for City to incredibly make it 3-3 when Lauren Hemp converted Weir’s precise through-ball.
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