Bunny Shaw’s 5th seals City’s comeback win over Arsenal
Key Points(5)
- Khadija “Bunny” Shaw continued her red-hot start to the Women’s Super League season Sunday, scoring late to complete Manchester City’s 4-2 comeback victory over Arsenal and preserve their unbeaten start.
- City had to recover from two separate deficits before Shaw’s 84th-minute strike finally settled a fiercely contested encounter, securing their fifth consecutive victory and keeping them atop the WSL standings, two points ahead of second-place Chelsea.
- The goal was Shaw’s fifth of the season, moving the Jamaican international into a three-way tie for the league lead.
- Arsenal twice take control Arsenal controlled much of the early pressure and came close through Beth Mead, while City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was forced to make a key intervention, pushing Emily Fox’s effort behind.
- The breakthrough finally came three minutes before halftime when Lisa Baum bundled Arsenal ahead from close range.
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw continued her red-hot start to the Women’s Super League season Sunday, scoring late to complete Manchester City’s 4-2 comeback victory over Arsenal and preserve their unbeaten start.
City had to recover from two separate deficits before Shaw’s 84th-minute strike finally settled a fiercely contested encounter, securing their fifth consecutive victory and keeping them atop the WSL standings, two points ahead of second-place Chelsea.
The goal was Shaw’s fifth of the season, moving the Jamaican international into a three-way tie for the league lead.
Arsenal twice take control
Arsenal controlled much of the early pressure and came close through Beth Mead, while City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was forced to make a key intervention, pushing Emily Fox’s effort behind.
The breakthrough finally came three minutes before halftime when Lisa Baum bundled Arsenal ahead from close range.
City refused to enter the interval behind, however, with Lauren Hemp producing a powerful finish from an acute angle in stoppage time to restore parity.
Arsenal regained the advantage only four minutes into the second half.
Yui Hasegawa’s misplaced pass inside the penalty area fell invitingly for Alessia Russo, who made no mistake, drilling her shot beyond Yamashita to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.
City turn the match around
The response from the league leaders was decisive.
Kerstin Casparij, introduced from the bench, needed just one touch to make her impact. In the 63rd minute, she curled a superb effort into the top-right corner to bring City level again.
Hemp then completed her brace nine minutes later, sliding the ball underneath Arsenal goalkeeper Anneke Borbe to give the hosts their first lead of the afternoon.
With Arsenal chasing another equalizer, City found the decisive opening six minutes from time.
Shaw collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired toward goal, with the shot taking a slight deflection on its way in to make it 4-2.
Shaw keeps finding the net
The Jamaican’s latest strike capped another influential display and continued a prolific opening to the campaign.
With five goals already, Shaw has established herself among the WSL’s leading scorers while helping City maintain their position at the summit.
After twice falling behind, City ultimately had the final word, and Shaw provided the finishing touch to another comeback that kept their unbeaten record intact.
