Fifty years since the first Women’s FA Cup final, Emma Hayes’s Chelsea showed the domestic game is in rude healthA satisfying sense of symmetry surrounded a Women’s FA Cup final which, in some ways, seemed almost as much about the past as a reassuringly vibrant present.One hundred years to the day since the Football Association banned women from playing football on grounds belonging to affiliated men’s clubs on the basis that the game was “quite unsuitable for females”, Chelsea – and Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr in particular – thoroughly undid Arsenal in a final postponed from last season. Continue reading...
Swedish coach’s side edged Chelsea in WSL encounter and leans into superstitions to try to land trophy on SundayJonas Eidevall has just given away his biggest superstition two days from his first FA Cup final, at Wembley against Emma Hayes’s Chelsea. “If Emma sees this she will probably buy a thousand black cats with the money Chelsea have and send them all over our ground,” Arsenal’s manager says. “I’m going to be invaded by black cats.”It is said with a big laugh but Eidevall has not finished. “I don’t let any black cats cross my way, ever – I don’t harm any black cats either, it’s important to say. But I have sometimes driven around, rerouting for a couple of...
England’s 20-0 hammering of Latvia was indicative of a trend in international games and pre-qualifiers can be part of a solutionIn the past three months 29 European Women’s World Cup qualifying games have concluded with a winning margin of seven goals or more. England’s 20-0 hammering of Latvia broke a record set by Belgium’s 19-0 defeat of Armenia last Thursday to become the highest-scoring Women’s World Cup qualifier ever. These results are not the exception that they are in the men’s game; when the haves and have-nots meet they are increasingly the rule.The gap is getting bigger and it is not a result of some countries investing and some not (although that is a factor in a minority of countries)...
In the absence of Steph Houghton the centre-back and acting captain was on inspired form again against AustriaWhen Millie Bright lashed the ball goalwards from 25 yards in the first half, it flew wide of Manuela Zinsberger’s net. It was inconsequential, an unremarkable moment in a comfortable win in uncomfortable conditions, but it spoke to the confidence of the centre-back, who has flourished as anchor at the base of England’s spine.Steph Houghton, England’s captain, has not played a minute of international football since Team GB’s heartbreaking 4-3 extra-time defeat to Australia at the Olympics. An ankle injury has limited her to just four games this season with Manchester City. Continue reading...
Things looking up for Manchester City, United need signings, Reading on the rise and Carter has a big job at Birmingham Manchester City’s dominant 5-0 defeat of Aston Villa was their third win in eight league games. After suffering a tough 4-0 loss to Chelsea at the Academy Stadium and then a League Cup defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night, the second-half goal-fest against Villa could be the start of a turnaround in the club’s fortunes. However, the biggest wins for Gareth Taylor’s under-pressure side this weekend came elsewhere. The defeats suffered by Brighton, Tottenham and Manchester United mean last season’s runners-up sit just five points off third and only two behind their derby rivals. Suddenly Champions League football...