We strode to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion to secure our place in the Subway Women’s League Cup semi-finals.
Goals from Frida Maanum, Katie McCabe, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mariona Caldentey gave us our tenth victory in a row in all competitions.
What happened?
We kicked off our title defence in the Subway Women’s League Cup quarter-finals against a Brighton & Hove Albion side who have yet to lose at home this season.
Renée Slegers named six changes to the team that comfortably defeated Crystal Palace in the WSL last weekend. Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Katie Reid, Manuela Zinsberger, Lia Walti and Rosa Kafaji were all granted starts.
An injury to Rosa Kafaji halted the game just minutes after it had kicked off but our winger was good to continue.
Our Gunners weathered a spell of pressure from the hosts in the early stages of the first half but grew into the period. Some pinpoint long balls from Wubben-Moy nearly unlocked some breakaway runs, but our wingers were caught by the offside flag
Some neat footwork from Kafaji led to a good chance on goal from Katie McCabe, but our left-back’s shot rocketed over the crossbar.
A fantastic cross whipped in from McCabe around the half-hour mark found an in-form Alessia Russo in the box, but our number 23’s header went straight at Melina Loeck in the Brighton goal.
Lia Walti was forced off with an injury just before half-time, replaced by club captain Kim Little. Our number 10 made an immediate impact in the midfield, with some incisive through balls, but it remained goalless at half-time.
We came out of the gates for the second half with renewed energy and purpose. Mariona Caldentey and Emily Fox were introduced before the hour-mark as our World Cup winner proved instrumental from the off.
We found the all-important breakthrough in the 65th minute by catching Brighton playing out from the back. Mariona won the ball high and set up Frida Maanum for 1-0.
From that moment on, we were unstoppable. Mariona unlocked Russo down the right flank and our number 23 found Katie McCabe ready and waiting to make it two. This marked the Irish captain’s first goal this season.
In the blink of an eye, we extended our lead further with a wonder strike from Kyra Cooney-Cross. Mariona, once again in the centre of the action, picked out our Aussie midfielder, who struck the ball sweetly into the top-right corner.
With three goals in five minutes, our Gunners remained fully in the driver’s seat for the remainder of the match. Mariona added a goal to her two assists seven minutes from time, with a glorious lob from the edge of the area.
The final whistle blew to send us through to the semi-finals of the competition, with another slew of goals and a clean sheet for company.
What’s NeXt?
After Manchester City saw off local rivals Manchester United in the other quarter-final, we will host Gareth Taylor’s side in the semis.
Fixture details will be confirmed in due course.
Team News
STARTING XI: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina (Williamson, 79), Reid (Fox, 57), McCabe (C), Cooney-Cross, Walti (Little, 45), Maanum, Kafaji, Mead (Mariona, 57), Russo (Blackstenius, 79)
Subs: van Domselaar, Catley, Wienroither, Foord
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