Kerr shows her class as Chelsea grab vital point SILVA FURY AT LACK OF RED CARD
IF thIs London derby is anything to go by, the Women’s super League title race will go down to the wire once again.
It was advantage Arsenal when Kim Little’s second-half penalty gave them a deserved lead but Chelsea were rescued by the reliable sam Kerr, who headed in a brilliant 89th-minute equaliser. ‘What she has, not many have,’ Chelsea boss Emma hayes said of the Australian. ‘I’m not sure anyone in the world can score the number of goals she has throughout her career. she doesn’t lose focus. she stays confident in the games and knows it will only take one chance.’
It is not just these two teams in the race. Manchester United’s 6-0 victory over Liverpool has put them above Arsenal on goal difference and both teams have a game in hand on Chelsea, who are three points clear. Manchester City will feel they are not out of it either, with last night’s 1-0 win at West ham moving them to within six points of the Blues. Arsenal paid for failing to kill off the game with a number of clear-cut chances. Manager Jonas
Eidevall admitted he will be disappointed if the Gunners do not sign a prolific goalscorer this month and the first-half chances his side wasted showed why. Lina hurtig could only send a tame shot at Zecira Musovic before Frida Maanum hit a shot straight down the middle when she had a clear sight of goal. the hosts continued to have the better chances after half-time as hurtig’s header forced Musovic into a fantastic save. Eventually the breakthrough came but in controversial circumstances. Caitlin Foord was bundled over by Niamh Charles as she approached the box, with referee Emily heaslip awarding a penalty. Chelsea’s players were furious, believing the contact from Charles was outside the box. But there was nothing they or Musovic could do as Little stepped up to convert the spot-kick in the 57th minute. It should have been 2-0 when Foord saw an effort cleared off the line, before Musovic made another fine stop to deny steph Catley. those chances came back to haunt Arsenal when Kerr (right) brought Chelsea level with only their second effort on target. she got away from Leah Williamson to meet Jelena Cankovic’s cross and powered an emphatic header past Manuela Zinsberger.
It was Kerr’s first sight of goal. that is the difference. she only needed one chance. Arsenal’s forwards could not finish any. that has to change if they are to take the title back. Eidevall said: ‘We were the better team and created more opportunities. I think normally we would have defended that lead. But they had a moment of brilliance.’
Alexander Isak headed home in the 89th minute, but Silva was not happy. ‘I have to mention the moment of the penalty,’ he said. ‘Not because we missed, that can happen. But it is difficult to understand in 30 seconds two decisions in the box.
‘It is difficult to understand how the referee didn’t see at least one. But what is more difficult to understand is how the VAR cannot see the first penalty. That has to be a penalty and a red card for the player. ‘Andreas is going to finish and Dan Burn
pulled him. It is a clear penalty and red card. It made a huge impact. The game is completely different if they play with 10 players.’ Mitrovic’s disallowed goal rallied the home crowd and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: ‘We got a lift from that moment — bizarrely, that can happen. They miss the penalty, the crowd really gets behind us, our players feel a sense of a little bit more freedom, because we could have been behind, and we go on to win the game. I was delighted for Alex to get the goal.’
Howe defended his decision to start Joelinton, who was charged with drink-driving last week. ‘I had a long meeting with my coaching staff on Saturday afternoon after training, where we debated the whole scenario. Ultimately, I have to make the decision, and I did,’ Howe said.
‘I didn’t underestimate what Joe did, but there is a whole host of things to consider around it and I felt this was the right call at that moment.’ Howe says midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will be sent for a scan on his injured ankle but admitted the player was still in discomfort after the game and said: ‘That is never a good sign’.