Smith strike sinks City as Arsenal stun WSL leaders

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
by Layth Yousif
in Ashburton Grove

RENEE SLEGERS’ side secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City in N5 this afternoon, with a first-half goal from the Gunners’ £1million summer signing Olivia Smith.

Smith’s 17th-minute winner handed City their first WSL defeat since the opening day of the season, the 21-year-old Canadian’s strike coming after being fed by Mariona Caldentey to cap off a good few weeks for the north Londoners. The Gunners have now beaten Chelsea and City in back-to-back league games, either side of winning the Champions Cup.

Caitlin Foord almost doubled the score shortly after with a stinging shot that City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita matched.

As Arsenal dominated, the relentlessly combative Katie McCabe went close just after the half-hour mark.

Five minutes before the break, Foord’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Caldentey, who volleyed wide from 20 yards.

As time ticked down towards the break, City goalkeeper Yamashita showed excellent reflexes to tip over Alessia Russo’s powerful header, after the Gunners striker met Beth Mead’s corner in a crowded box.

On the hour mark, Foord shot the wrong side of Yamashita’s near post after the Gunners had advanced.

As the match opened, City appeared to have strong claims to have Caldentey sent off, after the Spain international appeared to have brought down lioness Lauren Hemp, who was clear on goal shortly after the hour mark – but no foul or penalty was called by referee Abigail Byrne, who simply waved play on, with Caldentey fortunate to remain on the pitch.

As time ran down Slegers made a triple substitution, introducing Leah Williamson, Smilla Holmberg and Chloe Kelly, the trio were greeted with great success by the majority of the impressive crowd of 39,155 on Sunday lunchtime, as the home side hung on to seal victory.