Manchester United beat Arsenal 1-0 at Meadow Park to book a spot in their first ever Subway Women’s League Cup final.
A single Elisabeth Terland strike proved enough for United after Olivia Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Arsenal had welcomed Manchester United to Meadow Park to face each other for the second time already this year. That earlier meeting was in the Barclays Women’s Super League and it ended scoreless just as it had at Leigh Sports Village in October. Fans braved the North London cold on Wednesday night hoping for a little more entertainment this time round. There would at least be a winner on the night whatever happened with a place in the Subway Women’s League Cup final at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium up for grabs.
The Gunners were without vice captain Leah Williamson who was missing with a calf complaint. Renée Slegers had confirmed that Daphne van Domselaar would be fit to make the match day squad. She kept her word and the Dutch shot stopper started on the bench for Arsenal with Anneke Borbe continuing between the sticks.
Both sides made five changes from their respective Adobe Women’s FA Cup victories at the weekend. Emily Fox was not included in the squad after the American had to come off early on the weekend with what looked like a head injury. Taylor Hinds was preferred ahead of Smilla Holmberg who started on the bench. Arsenal were still missing Kyra Cooney-Cross who remains on compassionate leave while Chloe Kelly remains side lined with a knee injury.
As for Manchester United they remained without Ella Toone after the Lionesses star was ruled out until March with injury. Swedish compatriot Fridolino Rolfö was absent due to injury as was Gabby George and Leah Galton, both of whom are also working their way back from injuries.
Swedish starlet Ellen Wangerheim who signed from Hammarby last week started for the first time for Marc Skinner’s side. Wangerheim replaced Melvine Malard in the starting eleven. Simi Awujo was also rewarded with a start after scoring against Burnley on the weekend. Lea Schüller, who signed from Bayern Munich this window was joined by Hannah Lundkvist formerly of San Diego Wave on the bench. There was also a spot on the bench for Layla Drury, the 16 year old who became the club’s youngest ever goal scorer against Burnley.
The Lineups
ARS: Borbe; Hinds, Codina, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Pelova, Mariona, Maanum; Foord, Smith, Russo
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Sandberg, Le Tissier, Janssen, Riviere; Zigiotti, Miyazawa, Awujo; Park, Wangerheim, Terland
The Action
After both teams had failed to score in 180 minutes against each other so far this term within a minute Arsenal looked intent on changing that. Streaming forward, Olivia Smith ate up the yards in front of her, she played it to Alessia Russo out wide. Russo’s ball into the danger area was met by the head of Maanum whose low effort was dramatically palmed away by Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Arsenal came forward again just after the 10 minute mark, a long ball into the box from Mariona Caldentey found the head of Lotte Wubben-Moy who directed her header into the box. Caitlin Foord met the ball from point blank range but her header was meek and straight at Tullis-Joyce.
Arsenal had another golden opportunity only moments later but Maanum skied the ball over the ball when the goal seemed at her mercy. Manchester United had their best effort to that point just before the 15 minute mark. A deep set piece was driven into the back post but Wangerheim’s header across goal was held by Borbe. Smith was causing issues for United, a number of her impressive dribbles found her inside the box but the moves were snuffed out. Russo had her first sight of goal before the 25th minute mark. After good pressing from Smith had won possession back for Arsenal she played the ball to Maanum in the box. Maanum’s lofted cross was to Russo, controlling the ball Russo took aim at goal but the ball trickled wide in the pouring rain.
Before the 30 minute mark Manchester United felt they should have had a penalty when a loose pass from Codina found Awujo. Awujo played it to Elisabeth Terland. Terland cut past one defender and readied herself for a shot on goal but hit the deck after she made contact with McCabe. Marc Skinner could be heard calling the decision a “joke” as one of his assistants was booked for their reaction to the decision. United were almost through on goal with ten minutes to play in the first half. When Wangerheim found herself in behind, Laia Codina snuffed out the danger with confidence.
Manchester United would take the lead with moments remaining in the first half. With United pressing, Borbe played a short pass directly to Wangerheim, Caldentey did extremely well to get in front of the Swede and wrestle back possession. However a brilliant toe from Wangerheim directed the ball away from Caldentey to Terland. The Norwegian’s deflected effort found the bottom corner to give United the lead on her fiftieth appearance for the club.
After the break the Gunners were looking for parity, probing United in the early moments without success. A sharp move on the left side of the pitch almost put Arsenal level. An outside of the boot pass down the line by Pelova found Foord running in behind. Foord picked out Russo in the box who could only direct her effort past the post. The match was reaching a boiling point as the clock ticked down, a number of poor challenges on Smith were met with furore by the Meadow Park faithful and the Arsenal bench.
After having been booked in the first half, Smith, exhibited some inexperience in her response to United’s physical approach to stopping her. In a frustrated moment she went in late on Julia Zigiotti Olme and she was shown a second yellow. Leaving Arsenal down to 10 players. Despite the red card Arsenal continued to sweep forward. A wonderful slice of attacking interplay saw Caldentey, Hinds and Russo link up. The Spaniard’s shot was well saved by Tullis-Joyce.
With Arsenal piling forward United had the chance to break and Wangerheim found Malard in space storming into the box. However Malard fired the ball over the crossbar when she should have hit the target. Arsenal found Holmberg in behind with just over ten minutes to play but she too fired her effort over. Holmberg was finding space in behind and she did so again after being played through by Russo, this time her effort was met by a good block.
Arsenal piled forward with everything going through Holmberg on the right as their chances of a final in Bristol faded. The home side desperately tried to fire shots on goal but United defenders were throwing themselves at the ball to great effect. United almost doubled their lead on the break as Park ghosted into the box but Borbe did well to deny the second but at that stage the game was gone. With Arsenal crestfallen, Manchester United celebrated with their travelling support, a spot in the League Cup final for the very first time.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Anneke Borbe – 5.5/10 – The Arsenal goalkeeper made an awful error at the end of the first half to gift Manchester United the lead. Made a good stop from Park at the death.
RB: Taylor Hinds – 7.5/10 – Patient in her defensive work and it paid off for her. Some excellent interplay with Russo and Caldentey at times. One of the home side’s best performers.
RCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 6.5/10 – Arsenal captain for the night with Kim Little on the bench to face Manchester United, Wubben-Moy used her height to good effect from set pieces.
LCB: Laia Codina – 6.5/10 – Made a perfect challenge on Wangerheim as it appeared the Swede was through on goal. Passed the ball directly to Awujo at one point.
LB: Katie McCabe – 7.5/10 – Reads the game extremely well and made a couple of smart interceptions early on. McCabe was often inverting to good effect and did well to keep the ball in play at one point with a sliding challenge won seven of her eight duels. Lucky to avoid conceding a penalty in the first half.
CM: Victoria Pelova – 6.5/10 – Made a couple of driving runs from midfield early on but seemed to lack confidence in the final third.
CM: Mariona Caldentey – 8/10 – Dribbling and close control were exceptional, she made the most ball recoveries of any player on the pitch. Created four chances double the next most.
CAM: Frida Maanum – 6/10 – Her offensive positioning was so positive and she was heavily involved but Arsenal needed her to be clinical today and she wasn’t.
RW: Olivia Smith – 6/10 –Made an excellent start, the Arsenal winger ran aggressively at the Manchester United defence. At one point she ghosted past Sandberg before scooping a ball into the box excellent wing play. Was sent off for a second yellow, the challenge was an immature one and sees her ruled out of the game against Chelsea.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 6.5/10 – A battling start from the Australian winger, who was looking to give Riviere another torrid evening. Tracked back often. There were a few loose touches as the first half went on but was able to find space in behind often. End product needs to be better.
ST: Alessia Russo – 7/10 – Had an intriguing battle with her former team mate Maya Le Tissier. Worked hard all night but much like the rest of her side, the finishing touch was lacking. Created a number of chances for Arsenal and looked better in a deeper role tonight.
SUBS
Stina Blackstenius – (58′ Maanum) – 6.5/10 – Made a number of misplaced passes in the final third. Ran in behind to good effect at times.
Smilla Holmberg (74′ Hinds) – 8/10 – Almost immediately played a wicked ball into the box but nobody in Arsenal red and white was gambling. Backtracked extremely well to deny United late on.
Kim Little (74′ Pelova) – 7.5/10 – Helped Arsenal to control the transitions when down to ten players.
Beth Mead – (85′ Russo) – N/A – Did not have much time to make an impact.
Manchester United Player Ratings
GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 8/10 – Made a smart early save to deny a Maanum header from close range and then later to get down quickly to stop Caldentey. Probably the single most important player in this United team right now.
RB: Jayde Riviere – 7.5/10 – Was aggressive looking for interceptions in the pouring rain. Did really well to manage the occaision after what happened at the Emirates 11 days ago.
RCB: Maya Le Tissier – 8/10 – Made the most defensive contributions by some margin on the night. A captain’s performance away in the rain.
LCB: Dominique Janssen – 8/10 – Another brilliant performance from the centre back partners away at Arsenal. Janssen was second in defensive contributions only to Le Tissier.
LB: Anna Sandberg – 7/10 – Was tasked with stopping Olivia Smith and had an entertaining battle with the Canadian. Was not able to get forward as much with her duties marking Smith.
CDM: Hinata Miyazawa – 7.5/10 – The double pivot has proven so difficult for Arsenal to deal with over the course of these three matches this season. Miyazawa was excellent again.
CM: Julia Zigiotti Olme – 8/10 – Chief disruptor of the Arsenal attacking flow, Zigiotti Olme got under Arsenal’s skin. Made the most tackles and also created the most chances for United while winning the most duels in the match.
CAM: Simi Awujo – 7.5/10 – Probed in behind the Arsenal back line looking for gaps, created United’s best chance of the first half prior to the goal.
RW: Ellen Wangerheim – 7.5/10 – Was heavily involved throughout and was a thorn in Arsenal’s side. Did so well to stick with it for the United goal.
LW: Jess Park – 6.5/10 – Had a quiet evening in attack, but did the necessary defensive side of her job well.
ST: Elisabeth Terland – 7.5/10 – Did extremely well to find a way to break the deadlock, should have won her team a penalty too.
SUBS
Lisa Naalsund (64′ Awujo) – 6/10 – Did not have much impact on proceedings after coming on.
Hannah Lundkvist (64′ Sandberg) – 7.5/10 – The new Manchester United full back did really well to cope with the physical challenge of coming into a match against Arsenal like this. Demonstrated wonderful composure on the ball.
Melvine Malard – (71′ Olme) – 7.5/10 – Should have scored after coming on, provided an outlet on the counter attack.
Lea Schüller – (90′ Terland) – N/A –
