Written By Cameron Jarvis
A record breaking game for the Southampton Women’s team ends in a heart-breaking defeat.
In their first ever meeting in any competition Arsenal looked to climb above Southampton in Group D of the Continental Cup.
Southampton sit second in the table only two points above Arsenal in third but the gunners have a game in hand.
It was a bright start for the Saints, just two minutes in, Arsenal conceded a free kick 35 yards out. Of the resultant free kick the ball was floated into the area and played away into the direction of Paige Peake who’s cross found the hands of Sabrina D’Angelo.
Southampton came out the blocks bright but Arsenal looked a lot more settled on the ball inside the first 10 minutes, with Southampton giving the ball away inside their own half multiple times.
Arsenal first big chance came a quarter of an hour in as Lina Hurtig squared the ball across to Alessia Russo who’s shot was blocked by Peake. Just moments after, as Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure, another shot by the away side was blocked by Jemma Purfield and Southampton cleared the ball away.
It was then Southampton’s turn to put on the pressure but Ella Morris’ pass couldn’t find a teammate and was collected comfortably by D’Angelo.
Southampton had their first shot on target with 10 minutes to go as Alice Griffiths’ shot from distance was tame and ended up safely in the hands of D’Angelo once again.
With five minutes to go of normal time Ella Morris danced into the box and won a corner, Purfield’s delivery almost connected with an acrobatic attempt of Katie Wilkinson but she failed to get the required contact.
Right at the end of normal time, Chole Lacasse found herself open with space inside the box on the right hand side but her shot just fizzed wide.
Southampton had one final chance in the first half to go ahead from 20 yards out but Molly Pike’s free kick was hit straight at the Arsenal wall.
Both teams had their fair share of chances with in the first half as Arsenal were the more dominant of the two teams but neither could find the back of the next.
Once again it was Southampton who started the second half better as they looked positive and on the front foot.
After battling so hard in the first half to keep Arsenal out, Southampton’s perseverance finally paid of as just under 10 minutes into the half Pike’s delicate chip from just inside the box went looping over the head of D’Angelo for the Saints to take the lead.
Arsenal then countered immediately with Frida Maanum’s shot saved by Kayla Rendall but the saints could only clear the ball back to an Arsenal shirt, which they played in behind. The pass deflected off a Southampton player into the path of Maanum where she dispatched it into the roof of the net to equalise.
The atmosphere in the ground picked up into the final 10 minutes as either team looked like they could score the winner.
Arsenal had a great chance to go 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go as Catley’s corner found the open head of Jennifer Beattie but her header went just wide.
Arsenal then completed the comeback inside added time when a corner was whipped in by Maanum into the area, where it was flicked on by the head of Sweden international Amanda Ilestedt into the bottom right hand corner to give the Gunners victory.
Southampton women set a new attendance record today with 13,438 inside St Mary’s yet they came up just short against an Arsenal side that now move into second in Group D, level on points with rivals Tottenham.
Southampton Team: Kayla Rendell (GK), Ella Morris, Milly Mott, Lucia Kendall, Rosie Parnell (Captain), Katie Wilkinson (Atlanta Primus 69th minute ), Rianna Dean,(Lexie Lloyd-Smith 45thminute) Molly Pike, Alice Griffiths (Chloe Peplow), Jemma Purfield, Pagie Peake
Unused Substitutes: Bethany Howard (GK) , Laura Raffety, Megan Wynne, Sophia Pharoah, Emma Thompson, Emily Kraft,
Manager: Marieanne Spacey-Cale
Arsenal Team: Sabrina D’Angelo (GK), Jennifer Beattie, Steph Cately, Frida Lmaanum, Lia Walti (Captain), Noelle Maritz, Lina Hurting (Vivianne Miedema 61st minute,) Katherine Kuhl, Alessia Russo (Catlin Foord 46th minute), Chole Lacasse (Katie McCabe 77th minute,) Laia Condina (Amanda Ilestedt 46th minute).
Unused Substitutes: Manuela Zinsburg, Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Vivienne V. Lia
Manager: Jonas Eidevall
Referee Stacey Pearson
Attendance: 13,438
POTM: Frida Maanum
