By Lynette Eyb
One player made the difference at the Emirates on Sunday – and saved Chelsea’s bacon: Sam Kerr.
After 89 minutes of Arsenal dominance in the London derby, Kerr buried a header off a searing cross from substitute Jelena Cankovic.
Sam Kerr scored to draw Chelsea level.Credit:Getty Images
The 1-1 result ensured Chelsea remain top of the Women’s Super League, Kerr salvaging a point for her side in a much-hyped derby after the home side had penetrated deep into the visitors’ half time and time again.
Arsenal were without England star Beth Mead and Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema – both Ballon d’Or contenders and both out with ACL injuries. Even so, they looked sprightly from the kickoff, dominating the first half as Caitlin Foord posed a constant threat to Nimah Charles upfront.
But it wasn’t until the second half that Foord gave Arsenal the edge, the Australian’s charging run into the box drawing a foul and setting Kim Little up to convert the only penalty of the game.
Chelsea had just survived a 53rd-minute raid on goal by Swedish international Lina Hurtig, who was denied twice within seconds.
Arsenal’s Australian defender Caitlin Foord tackles Chelsea’s Niamh Charles at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.Credit:Getty Images
Moments later, Foord guided the ball towards goal, drawing a controversial foul from Charles, the referee ruling the contact came inside the box, though replays hinted otherwise. Little buried the ball from the spot to give Arsenal the lead.
There was a late flourish from Chelsea, but Arsenal’s defence – led by England captain Leah Williamson and backed by Australian Steph Catley – held strong until Cankovic’s late cross swung in for Kerr, who evaded Williamson to steal the equaliser.
“It is a big goal in the title race,” said Kerr. “We needed something. Jelena came on and put in a great ball, I had been waiting for it for 15 minutes and I kept my cool.
“I pride myself in staying in the game for those moments at the end and it came off.”
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’ double substitution after 60 minutes, bringing Fran Kirby and Eve Perisset on for Jessie Fleming and Charles, had done little to stem the tide against the visitors until Kerr struck in the final 10 minutes.
“What she has, not many have,” Hayes said after the game. “I don’t think anyone in the world can score the number of goals she has throughout her career.
“She doesn’t lose focus, she stays confident, she knows it will only take one chance. So often top players switch off. Not Sam.”
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall put the equaliser down to a “moment of brilliance”.
It was a game that showcased three of Australia’s brightest talents ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Foord starred for Arsenal, while Catley was unlucky in the 73rd minute, with her cross into the box hustled onto the crossbar by Chelsea keeper Zecira Musovic.
The first half had been a yo-yoing affair before Arsenal took charge, looking dangerous down the left-hand side, but providing few real challenges for Musovic.
The visitors clawed their way back into the game by half-time, but regular incursions by Lauren James proved fruitless, while a late chance off Kerr’s head missed its mark, despite providing Chelsea with their only real chance in the first 45 minutes.
Chelsea may have felt hard-done-by to be all square at the break after Foord brought Charles down in the box, but the contact bypassed the referee. With no VAR, play continued.
Arsenal – trailing three points on the ladder – are bidding to break Chelsea’s three-year stranglehold on the Women’s Super League. Arsenal last won the title in 2019.
Both have been in sublime form: Chelsea on a 15-match unbeaten run since before Christmas and Arsenal topping their Champions League group ahead of holders Lyon.
It was an emotionally charged game both on and off the field – and in front of 46,811 people, which was just 556 shy of a new league record.
Arsenal players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Mead’s mother, June, who lost her fight against ovarian cancer on January 7. The Chelsea players were also wearing black armbands following the death of former men’s player and manager Gianluca Vialli.
The Emirates also paid tribute to Jordan Nobbs, a club stalwart who debuted on Saturday for Aston Villa after leaving north London in pursuit of regular football and a seat on England’s World Cup plane to Australia.
Elsewhere in the Women’s Super League, Manchester United thrashed Liverpool 6-0, Everton moved up to fifth with a home win against to Reading, and Leicester City accounted for Brighton.
– With AAP
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