- Mary Fowler scored a late goal for Manchester City
- Defender Alanna Kennedy had a game to forget
- City recorded their first defeat in the WSL against Everton
Matilda star Mary Fowler has scored a late penalty but it wasn’t enough to give Manchester City the perfect Christmas present as they squandered a brilliant opportunity to gain ground on Women’s Super League champions Chelsea during the Christmas break.
Fowler’s penalty in the 88th minute, which she fired straight down the middle, straight through the grasp of goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, gave City hope late on Sunday but it still proved too little too late as Everton City, remarkably, went ahead defeated for the first time ever in history. WSL.
City’s shock 2-1 defeat proved a miserable afternoon for both their Matildas, with Fowler relatively anonymous for most of the game in an unusual central striking role replacing the injured Khadija Shaw, while Alanna Kennedy simply had a game to to forget.
The experienced centre-back was caught hopelessly out of position by Lucy Hope’s header in the 31st minute and again looked helpless in the heart of the defense as Honoka Hayashi grabbed the second goal eight minutes later.
Her performance prompted manager Gareth Taylor to replace Kennedy at half-time.
Fowler fired home her third league goal of the season, and her second in consecutive weeks, from the spot after Yui Hasegawa was brought down by Karoline Olesen – but it proved to be only a consolation.
Mary Fowler shot in from the penalty spot, but Manchester City lost 2-1
Matildas star Alanna Kennedy had a game to forget and was substituted at half-time
Everton’s victory was a crushing blow to City’s hopes after Chelsea opened the door at the top with a 1-1 draw against lowly Leicester the day before, and Fowler’s side are still six points behind the champions going into the Christmas holidays.
However, for another Matilda, Everton stalwart Clare Wheeler, it was a welcome change in a tough season as she recorded only the Toffees’ second league win of the season.
Arsenal’s three Matildas – Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley – all featured in the Gunners’ hard-earned 1-0 win over Liverpool, which left them third, just a point behind City.
Alessio Russo gave the visitors a first-half lead and good work from Foord on the right flank later saw Arsenal win a penalty before half-time, only for Mariona Caldentey to send Australian keeper Teagan Micah the wrong way when he hit the post.
The loss has dealt a serious blow to Manchester City’s hopes of winning the WSL
Manchester United trail Arsenal on goal difference after Grace Clinton’s goal deep into first-half stoppage time gave them a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Dario Vidosic’s Brighton are in fifth place after their 1-1 draw with sixth-place Tottenham on Saturday, while Katrina Gorry’s assist for Viviane Asseyi’s goal proved in vain in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, leaving the Hammers are in tenth place out of twelve teams.
Chelsea are still playing without Matildas star Sam Kerr, who is still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear.