Stina Ends Chelsea’s Quad Dreams
Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius scored an extra time winner as Arsenal retained the Continental League Cup dashing Chelsea’s bid to win four major trophies in Emma Hayes’ swansong season.
The game, played in front of a record Conti Cup crowd of 21,462 at Wolves’ Molineux ground, had a tense, dramatic ending following the collapse of Arsenal’s Frida Maanum, who was stretchered off the pitch and a physical clash between Jonas Eidevall and Emma Hayes.
Arsenal later put out a statement that Maanum, who went down untouched, was thankfully “stable and able to talk.” As for the managerial contretemps, it occured just after they had shaken hands after the final whistle. It seems words were said and Hayes pushed a hand into Eidevall’s chest.
He explained on the record that it stemmed from a row about throw ins; that Arsenal had wanted to use multiple balls and Chelsea just the one. Chelsea prevailed, but after the goal they tried to take a quick throw with another ball and Eidevall appeared to block Cuthbert from doing so, hence the row.
Meanwhile, as far as the game went the first half was very tatctical with both sides largely cancelling each other out. Arsenal, who were left in the blocks a few weeks ago in Chelsea’s dominant 3-0 WSL win at Stamford Bridge, weren’t going to make the same mistake here and presssed from the front on the opening whistle.
Chances were few and far between, but the Blues looked more assertive and star player Lauren James looked in the mood to write another trove match winning headlines.
However, Chloe LaCasse had the clearest chance of the game in the 65th minute when she was put through on goal with on the keeper to beat. The shot lacked any real power and Hannah Hampton dealt with it comfortably.
With legs tiring both sides were guilty of giving the ball away and you felt that one goal would probably do the job.
That goal was surely about to come as James burst into the box on 85 minutes bearing down on Manuela Zinsberger. Although it was a tight angle, most expected to see the net ripple and the Golden Girl of British football peel away in celebration.
But Zins did her job, standing up and spreading out a left leg that deflected the ball past the post for a corner. Two minutes before extra time was going come into play the scary incident with Maanum hushed the stadium as everyone held their breath. There was a heartfelt round of the applause throughout the ground when the paramedics transported her off the field.
The second period of extra time saw two horrendous misses, the first by the eventual goal scorer, as Blackstenius blazed over from the D and minutes later James repayed the compliment when she also smashed it wide as it fell to her in the box.
Nevertheless, the Arsenal striker’s redemption came with five minutes left as sub Caitlin Ford drove down the left and cut it back. Though she didn’t control it cleany, it ricocheted off Cuthbert back to her and Blackstenius got just enough curl on it for it to bounce off Hampton’s left hand and into the net.
Stina’s Stinger: Blackstenius fires in the winning Conti Cup goal.