WHAT HAPPENED
Stina Blackstenius scored her first goal for the club on Saturday as we salvaged a late 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
We were trailing 1-0 and down to 10 players heading into the final 15 minutes, but Jonas Eidevall’s side never lost belief and got their reward with an outstanding counter-attacking move.
After making a positive start, it was the visitors who opened the scoring and in typical fashion too. Manchester United have score more goals from corners than any other side in the Women’s Super League this season, and this time it was Alessia Russo waiting at the far post to head beyond Manuela Zinsberger.
Vivianne Miedema came accordingly close to an equaliser just moments later after going it alone and carrying the ball for more than 30 yards, but her powerful effort bounced back off the bar and onto the goalline.
Shortly after Tobin Heath saw her curling effort sail over the bar after cutting inside from the left wing.
Eidevall opted for a change during the half-time interval with Tobin Heath being replaced by Caitlin Foord, and the latter came close to making an instant impact off the bench, only to see her first-time effort from close range saved by Mary Earps.
Our hopes of securing a result took another hit when Katie McCabe was dismissed for picking up her second yellow card of the afternoon - but with one last roll of the dice, Miedema picked up the ball deep inside her own half and set Blackstenius through on goal with an inch-perfect pass.
Our No 25 pulled away from her marker with a sharp turn of pace and with Earps rushing off her line to close the angle, Blackstenius showed great composure to find the back of the net and secure a vital point in the race for the WSL title.
WHAT IT MEANS
WHAT’S NEXT
Up next, we will face Chelsea in the FA WSL on Friday, February 11.
The game will take place at Kingsmeadow with kick-off at 7.45pm (UK time).
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