City edged out by injury time Chelsea winner | OneFootball

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).