Substitute Beth Mead scored a late equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw for Arsenal against Manchester City in a thrilling opening-weekend Women’s Super League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
An end-to-end game, which saw a total of 31 shots, saw the home side take an eighth-minute lead through Frida Maanum’s powerful first-time finish.
But after Stina Blackstenius missed a great chance to double Arsenal’s lead, the Gunners were haunted by their former striker Vivianne Miedema as the Netherlands international scored a deflected equaliser just before half-time for her first WSL goal for City.
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Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema equalised against her former club
The WSL’s all-time top scorer refused to celebrate against her old club, where she spent seven years before joining City this summer on a free transfer.
Arsenal then thought they had retaken the lead just two minutes into the second half, but Caitlin Foord’s goal was controversially disallowed for offside, with replays showing Manchester City defender Laia Aleixandri playing the Australian onside.
With no VAR in the WSL, Arsenal’s frustration was compounded when Jess Park produced a stunning 58th-minute strike as her half-volleyed effort from outside the box crashed in off the underside of the bar to complete the City turnaround.
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Jess Park produced a brilliant strike to give Manchester City the lead
But it was the visitors who then felt aggrieved as Katie McCabe appeared to foul Chloe Kelly in the build-up to Mead’s equaliser as McCabe then released Rosa Kafaji, whose shot struck the post before Mead rebounded in to the delight of the 42,000 in attendance at the Emirates Stadium.
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Beth Mead equalised late on for Arsenal
More to follow…
