Mary Fowler netted a 95th-minute winner to send Manchester City through to the Women’s League Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.
Arsenal claimed a 4-3 victory over City just five days earlier in the Women’s Super League, but the visitors took revenge to set up a showdown with Chelsea at Derby’s Pride Park Stadium on Saturday March 15.
City were without striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw after she withdrew from their match squad after suffering racist and misogynistic abuse on Sunday.
Fowler stood up in her absence, firing past past goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in the 26th minute although the hosts soon hit back through Mariona Caldentey’s penalty.
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The Australia striker then had the opportunity to restore City’s lead during the second half from 12 yards although had her spot kick saved.
However, Fowler redeemed herself by scoring a dramatic late winner which found the bottom right corner to send City through.
“[It was] something to be really proud of,” said Fowler “Arsenal always put up a good fight and they played well tonight.
“I’m super proud of the girls and how we played and just happy to get the win.
“I was really happy. I felt mostly relief, but I was super happy, I’ve been wanting to win something with the girls for so long so to be a step closer to doing that is really exciting.”
‘Fowler didn’t let penalty miss affect her’
Man City manager Gareth Taylor added: “I think the players really deserve that after their performance. Sometimes you don’t get it, but I felt if we were going to go into extra time, I really fancied us to get a goal because we were knocking on the door a lot tonight and we showed good character.
“We missed the penalty but Mary scored a brilliant goal before that and it could have extended our lead a little bit more.
“We surrendered a bit of possession to Arsenal in periods, but I thought the character that the team showed and especially Mary, and because she had the real bit between her teeth and it didn’t really affect her, the penalty, which is the sign of a top player.
“But I think she gave so much to the team tonight. Everyone really worked hard to get us over the line.”
Chelsea reach first final under Bompastor
Chelsea reached their first final under Sonia Bompastor with a 2-0 win over West Ham.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd fired in the opening goal on the 20th-minute mark before Sjoeke Nusken doubled the Blues lead nine minutes later.
Vivianne Asseyi came close to halving the Hammers’ deficit in first half added time but her free-kick rattled the upright.
Chelsea continued to dominate limiting West Ham to very little after the break to secure them into a sixth consecutive League Cup final.
