WSL Preview: City and Chelsea near day of destiny
Just two wins separates Manchester City from their first ever WSL title with the potential that both of their required wins could be achieved this weekend.
Seven days after knocking out Arsenal at the Academy Stadium in the Continental Cup, Manchester City head south to Boreham Wood where they will meet an Arsenal side they narrowly defeated 1-0 the previous weekend. The result meant that for the first time in competition history the final will be contested without Arsenal who’d knocked out City the previous season on their way to winning the competition.
On an emotional day for Manchester City an 80th minute Jennifer Beattie goal saw City squeak past Arsenal but manager Nick Cushing believes that it will be a different game this weekend; “We’re in a good position and we’re excited for the next game against Arsenal, I said to Casey Stoney [after the cup win] we have to do it all again in seven days’ time!”
“We’ll prepare for that game slightly differently with it being an away game but we’ll prepare to either get the same result or win by a bigger margin. We always go into games to win. Our priority and our first goal for the season is to win the league. That’s our bread and butter.”
“Sunday’s game is important and our immediate focus. We have to go into the game to win it and strengthen our position. We can’t hide away from what’s at stake. I can play games now and say this and that but it’s a very important game and we’ll plan to be the best we can be.”
The two sides had previously met in March with City running out 2-0 winners at the Academy Stadium thanks to goals from Jane Ross and Toni Duggan albeit against an Arsenal side who’d seen Jemma Rose sent off in the first half and the influential Asisat Oshoala forced to make way at half time.
Arsenal will be hoping for three points to hang onto their slim hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League and they will require the assistance of Reading who are still in search of their first league win of the season.
Reading host Chelsea at Adam’s Park who will be hoping to take advantage of any City slip up at Boreham Wood having reduced the deficit at the gap from 13 points to seven thanks to three consecutive league wins.
After a shock home defeat to Arsenal in July Chelsea responded with convincing consecutive 4-0 wins against Doncaster Rovers Belles and Birmingham City before an impressive come from behind win at home to Notts County last week thanks to two goals from Katie Chapman.
If Reading are to cause an upset they will need to dramatically reverse their form which has seen them lose their last three games against Manchester City, twice, and Liverpool.