Fowler sends City to League Cup final | OneFootball

A dramatic 96th-minute Mary Fowler strike saw City reach the League Cup final after a 2-1 win at Arsenal.

The Blues took a deserved lead when Fowler found the top corner inside 26 minutes before Arsenal levelled from the spot through Mariona Caldentey in the second half.

A game where City twice hit the woodwork and had a penalty saved looked destined for extra time, but Fowler once again stepped up to fire home with virtually the last kick of the game.

Gareth Taylor’s side will now face Chelsea in March’s final at Pride Park.

WHAT HAPPENED

A 30-minute delay to kick-off disrupted pre-match preparations for both sides, but it did little to dampen an exciting atmosphere at Meadow Park.

The first real chance of the game fell to City, with Jill Roord stinging the palms of Daphne Van Domselaar with a vicious first-time effort, before Kerstin Casparij sliced another over the bar before the 15-minute mark.

There was no question that the Blues were looking more our usual selves in the opening 15 compared to Sunday’s defeat against the Gunners, with Fowler flashing one just over the bar after City had regained possession inside the Arsenal area.

The Australian – who grabbed two at the weekend - didn’t need another invitation though, grabbing the opener in impressive fashion midway through the first half.

Former Gunner Vivianne Miedema was the architect, skipping away from several challenges before playing Fowler in, who steadied herself and rifled across goal and into the top corner.

It was just rewards for City’s bright start, but Stina Blackstenius should probably have equalised when she blazed over the bar after being sent clean through around ten minutes before half-time.

The hosts were starting to gain more of a foothold as the half wore on, but City had the ball in the net again before the break when Fowler tapped home after Roord’s initial effort had been saved by Van Domselaar.

Fowler’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, with Aoba Fujino then forcing an excellent last-ditch block out of Lotte Wubben-Moy, before Kerstin Casparij made a crucial late clearance with Alessia Russo waiting to pounce at the other end.

Another Kerolin Nicoli cross almost caught out Van Domselaar early in the second half, with the Brazilian’s ball clipping the far post before Fujino then smashed against the bar from distance in the same passage of play.

It was a lively start to the half, with Mariona Caldentey curling just over the bar soon after, but City were holding firm.

Blackstenius’ sharp effort on the turn called Ayaka Yamashita into action soon after as the game approached the hour mark, but a contentious penalty decision would open the door for the hosts to get back into the game.

It looked like Rebecca Knaak had got a fair portion of the ball as she slid in to tackle Blackstenius, but referee Kirsty Dowle pointed to the spot.

Yamashita guessed right, but Caldentey’s penalty was too powerful into the corner, bringing the scores level.

City, however were presented with a golden opportunity to regain the lead when Fowler was brought down just two minutes later inside the box.

The Australian dusted herself down and opted to go straight down the middle, but Van Domselaar guessed right to keep the scores at 1-1.

Undeterred, City continued our pursuit of the lead, with Roord, substitute Leila Ouahabi and Fowler all seeing efforts blocked.

Extra time was looming, and, like the first half, Arsenal were starting to get on top but Roord headed Fujino’s cross a whisker wide of the post.

There was still time for one big chance though, which Fowler dispatched in dramatic circumstances.

Opening up the space on her left foot, the Australian fired into the bottom corner to send the City fans into raptures, and the Blues to Pride Park.

A gutsy, and deserved display from a side now within touching distance of silverware.

How we lined up

Gareth Taylor made three changes from Sunday's WSL clash with the Gunners, with Ayaka Yamashita, Naomi Layzell and Kerolin Nicoli all coming in to start at Meadow Park.

Yamashita's goal was shielded by a back four of Layzell, Laia Aleixandri, Rebecca Knaak and Kerstin Casparij, with Yui Hasegawa sitting in front.

Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord completed the midfield three, with Kerolin Nicoli and Aoba Fujino starting on the flanks.

Mary Fowler came into a central position to lead the line.

ARSENAL XI: Van Domselaar, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson (C), Catley (McCabe 74'), Caldentey, Maanum (Foord 74'), Russo, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross.

SUBS: Zinsberger, Codina, Mead, McCabe, Kafaji, Foord, Nighswonger, Ilestedt, Reid.

CITY XI: Yamashita, Layzell (Ouahabi 65'), Aleixandri (C), Knaak, Casparij, Hasegawa, Miedema (Park 77'), Roord, Fujino, Kerolin Nicoli, Fowler.

SUBS: Keating, Blindkilde Brown, Prior, Oyama, Murphy, Davies.

Up next

City are in FA Cup action this weekend, taking on Leicester City at the Joie Stadium on Sunday 9 February.

Kick-off is set for 14:00 with a spot in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

Get your tickets for the game by clicking here.