Arsenal salvage a point against WSL leaders Chelsea | OneFootball

Arsenal rescue a point against Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea at the the Emirates Stadium.

Alyssa Thompson’s early chip looked to be enough to secure a win for the west London side but Alessia Russo’s late equaliser made sure left the match with a much-deserved point.

Arsenal had two disallowed goals in the match, the second from Frida Manuum in the 90th minute which looked to have won it if not for the offside flag.

Arsenal had won their three previous matches going into the clash against Chelsea, but this tie still felt like a game that could define their season. However, it was Chelsea that would dominate early proceedings.

Two minutes after kick-off, Sonia Bompastor’s side had already struck the woodwork through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, and it would not take long for Chelsea to take the lead. Just minutes later, Thompson swept the ball into the back of the Arsenal net. Rytting Kaneryd was once again involved as she played a perfect lay off to the American to chip over Van Domselaar who had gotten so lucky in the game’s opening moments.

Chelsea continued their ascendancy, and the only thing between them and extending their lead in the opening 20 minutes was Arsenal’s Dutch keeper. The most notable of her stops was a fantastic double save from Macario, the first of which she saved onto the crossbar before saving the striker’s headed rebound from four yards out.

Arsenal did create chances in the first half but struggled to trouble Hannah Hampton in the Chelsea goal. Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo had great openings on the edge of the area before the break, and yet, the England keeper stopped them both with ease.

Although Chelsea began the second half like they started the first – with Van Domselaar once again the only thing between them and a two-goal advantage stopping trikes from Kaptein and Niamh Charles, but it would be Arsenal who would have the ball in the back of the net next. However, it would not count muchg to the dismay of the fans packing out the Emirates Stadium.

Stina Blackstenius fired into the top corner of the goal seven minutes after the break following a corner, but the goal was ruled out for handball by the goalscorer.

The disallowed goal gave life to a struggling Arsenal side which improved massively in the second half but struggled to trouble Hampton until the 86th minute, and this time it would count.

And of all the people, of course it was Russo that scored the goal after Arsenal’s good work in the second half.

Manuum found the striker in the box unmarked to pass home through her Lionesses teammate Hampton’s hands.

Manuum was involved in another massive moment in the 90th minute as she raced through on goal with just Hampton to beat but as her shot rolled into the back of the net, the flag was up for offside.