Report: Arsenal 4-3 Manchester United (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Substitutes: Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Mead, Wälti, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross

Arsenal have finished second in the WSL, after beating Manchester United 4-3 on the final day of the season at the Emirates. Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone exchanged goals in the first half, before three second half goals in 11 minutes saw Arsenal go 4-1 up. Manchester United pulled two goals back in the second half from more sloppy defensive errors, but Arsenal were able to see out the remainder of the second half without incident.

Renée Slegers made one change to the lineup, with Chloe Kelly returning to start.

Arsenal took the lead on 2 minutes. Russo played the ball into the box, and Tullis-Joyce spilled it. Kelly took possession, skipped past Turner, and then dinked the ball into the corner of her net with her left foot. 1-0.

Sharp Arsenal passing moved the ball from right to left. Foord took on Le Tissier and shot, but Tullis-Joyce saved.

Kelly then crossed with her left for Russo, who headed wide.

On 12 minutes, Clinton gathered a clearance at the top of the box and shot. Her shot was arrowing towards the top corner, but Zinsberger got a hand to it and parried.

From the corner, Manchester United equalised. Turner beat McCabe in the air to head across, and Toone snuck away from Catley and headed beyond Zinsberger. 1-1.

Kelly spotted Tullis-Joyce off her line, and tried to catch her out from a crossing position, but the ball just went over the crossbar.

Maanum should’ve re-established Arsenal’s lead on half an hour. Fox, on the right, slipped in Kelly. Her cutback was blocked out to Maanum, who shot just wide from fairly close range.

Arsenal broke after Kelly won the ball back and Little drove through the middle before laying the ball off to Maanum, who, with the ball slightly behind her, shot weakly at Tullis-Joyce.

United countered, and Bizet beat McCabe on the outside. She went for goal from the outside, and hit the crossbar.

Foord, switching places with Kelly, was found by a Mariona throughball. She shot, and Tullis-Joyce parried behind for a corner. The corner, though, ultimately came to nothing, and the whistle went for half time.

Manchester United brought on Elisabeth Terland at half-time, with Leah Galton dropping into left wing-back.

Foord won a penalty on 48 minutes. She and Bizet clashed, and play was allowed to continue. Foord drove into the box, and Clinton stuck out a leg, and Foord went over.

After a slightly delay, Mariona stepped up, and passed her penalty into the far corner, with Tullis-Joyce going the wrong way. 2-1.

Frida Maanum extended Arsenal’s lead on 56 minutes. Maanum chased down a Russo pass that her her to the left. She passed back to McCabe, and McCabe passed behind Le Tissier, finding Maanum’s run, as she remained just onside. Maanum took a touch, and passed into the far corner. 3-1.

Arsenal should’ve had a second penalty two minutes later, as Bizet blocked the ball with her hand extended as McCabe looked to head past her. The referee, though, was unmoved.

Foord was then slipped in by Fox, but she took a heavy touch, and Le Tissier got in between Foord and the ball, causing the Australian to foul her.

Kim Little made it 4-1 on 61 minutes. Arsenal broke though the center again. Russo passed to Kelly, Kelly deftly passed to Little, and Little, in the box, took a touch and then fired into the far corner for her first goal of the season. 4-1.

Arsenal were running rampant in the wide areas, and Fox, played in behind, couldn’t find Russo in the center. Foord then played a dangerous ball across the box that Janssen put out for a corner.

Manchester United pulled a goal back on 70 minutes. McCabe’s clearance was poor and Terland intercepted, and shot. Her shot took a deflection off Catley, taking it beyond Zinsberger’s hands. 4-2.

Immediately after the goal, Beth Mead and Lia Wälti replaced Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum.

On 75 minutes, Manchester United won a penalty. Bizet ran onto a loose ball from a deflected shot, and went over McCabe’s out-stretched leg. Le Tissier stepped up to the spot, and sent Zinsberger the wrong way. 4-3.

Wälti pulled Bizet back as the Norwegian looked to get away on the right, and was booked.

Foord was found by Caldentey on the right and pulled the ball back for Mead, whose shot was blocked.

On 88 minutes, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Stina Blackstenius replaced Mariona and Katie McCabe, with Russo dropping in as the number 10, and Steph Catley going to left back.

7 minutes of stoppage time was added on.

Zinsberger did well to claim a cross under pressure from Malard.

Russo had possession and looked to play Blackstenius, but she went far too early and was flagged offside.

In the final minute, Codina replaced Fox. Janssen stepped forward onto a loose ball, shot well over the bar, and the whistle blew.

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