Teamwork makes the dream work

Toone turns Man United round; Bayern edge cup semi; Atléti stake case

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Arsenal beat Chelsea within the Conti Cup last, whereas Manchester Metropolis took benefit to go high within the Girls’s Tremendous League. Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich arrange a DfB Pokal last in opposition to Wolfsburg and Atlético Madrid pushed for a Champions League spot in Spain, regardless of a poor efficiency.

Stream on ESPN+: NWSL, LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

Toone turns issues round for Man United

Everton took a shock early lead in opposition to Manchester United by way of Katja Snoeijs, however have been unable to carry on to it within the second half as they got here away with a 4-1 loss because of a brace from Ella Toone.

Three targets in eight minutes turned the tide — one from Millie Turner, then a double from Toone — earlier than Leah Galton put some gloss on the scoreline late on to place United again on observe after their 3-1 drubbing to native rivals Manchester Metropolis final week.

United have now scored 16 targets in opposition to Everton this season (a 5-0 away win in WSL and a 7-0 thrashing within the League Cup), and took benefit of Liverpool’s defeat to return to fourth place within the desk. However they’re going to need to tighten issues up in the event that they need to keep there come the tip of the season. — Emily Keogh

Blackstenius is a big-game participant

On a weekend when in-form Manchester Metropolis beat Liverpool 4-1 to take over on the high of the WSL from Chelsea with a sport in hand, Arsenal defeated the Blues 1-0 within the Conti Cup last to compound their distress on Sunday.

The London sides appeared to be heading for penalties throughout an emotion-filled afternoon, after Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum collapsed off the ball and was stretchered off the pitch, however Stina Blackstenius confirmed how a lot she has grow to be a participant for the massive moments as she struck a winner within the one hundred and fifteenth minute.

Blackstenius scored Arsenal’s first aim in final yr’s last because the Gunners went on to seal a 3-1 win over Chelsea, and he or she netted a hat-trick within the semifinal in opposition to Aston Villa to e book their place within the last this time round. Having spent a lot of this marketing campaign on the bench, the Sweden worldwide has developed a knack for scoring late winners and her sixteenth aim in all competitions this season helped add silverware to the membership’s cupboard for the second yr in a row. — EK

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How Arsenal took the Conti Cup title after ‘stalemate’ vs. Chelsea

Sophie Lawson reacts to Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea to take the Conti Cup crown for the second yr working.

Aston Villa fail to provide the magic at dwelling

Aston Villa have one of many worst dwelling information within the WSL this marketing campaign. In 9 league video games, Carla Ward’s aspect have managed just one win and two attracts — the latest coming in a 2-2 draw in opposition to Leicester Metropolis this weekend as Rachel Daly salvaged some extent within the seventy fifth minute.

Certainly, Villa haven’t gained at dwelling since they beat Brighton 1-0 in December, and their final level there got here in opposition to Bristol Metropolis following a 2-2 attract February.

Final season, Villa managed 4 wins and two attracts at dwelling, utilizing the house crowd and momentum to propel them right into a fifth-placed end. However with solely two dwelling video games left, in opposition to West Ham and Manchester Metropolis, Villa are working out of alternatives to overturn their dismal file. — EK

Paris FC verify Montpellier‘s fall from grace

It wasn’t so way back that Montpellier have been the default third-best group in France, behind Lyon and PSG. However, after a protracted interval of disappointing soccer and questionable teaching, La Paillade discover themselves confined to mid-table ignominy now.

Montpellier’s capability to signal gifted gamers has been a relentless through the years, however the items have refused to return collectively for a while as they sit sixth. And Friday evening’s 3-0 defeat to Paris FC confirmed Montpellier’s fall (in addition to their opponents’ place as third-best aspect now) as Kessya Bussy‘s brace both aspect of a Clara Matéo strike proved greater than sufficient for the hosts, who discovered little resistance.

The introduction of a playoff system to determine the title winner within the French Division 1 Féminine this season will give groups like Paris FC somewhat extra hope going by way of the season — with the present 15-point deficit to leaders Lyon counting for little on the finish of the day. However for Montpellier, who’ve been eclipsed by groups like Paris FC and Stade de Reims in recent times, you must surprise if they may ever get again amongst France’s elite. — Sophie Lawson

Bayern’s DfB Pokal semifinal win carries an air of inevitability

With a penalty shootout win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich arrange one more assembly with rivals Wolfsburg as the highest two golf equipment in Germany continued to dominate. Though their cup showdowns have routinely been within the semi and quarterfinals, the final time Bayern have been knocked out by any group apart from Wolfsburg was throughout the 2015-16 season (Sand).

Bayern’s annual Pokal assembly with Wolfsburg is one thing you may set your watch by, and never even a gritty efficiency from Eintracht may cease that.

Having solely simply confronted Bayern within the league — a 2-1 loss at dwelling — Eintracht went a aim down early on after Georgia Stanway fired dwelling from the spot. However they equalised in gorgeous vogue when Géraldine Reuteler ripped a belter throughout the field and into Mala Grohs’ aim.

All sq. after 120 minutes, it was an in depth run factor as Eintracht solely fell on the final hurdle, with Grohs denying each Lara Freigang and Lara Prašnikar throughout the shootout. — SL

Atlético stake a declare however fail to impress

At dwelling to mid-table Valencia, fourth-placed Atlético Madrid ought to have been capable of flex their muscle groups and make an actual case for why they’re one of many groups combating for Spain’s third and last Champions League berth.

But the hosts have been largely insipid in a 1-0 win that noticed them saved on the backfoot throughout many of the first half. Rasheedat Ajibade‘s aim simply earlier than the break settled the tie, however the efficiency was a great distance off Champions League high quality.

Atletico did managed to capitalise on defeats for third-placed Levante [5-0 to Barcelona] and fifth-placed Madrid CFF [2-0 to Granada] to maintain issues tight in Liga F behind Actual Madrid. And, given it was Arturo Ruíz’s first sport in cost — having simply taken over from Manolo Cano — the outcome could have been extra essential than the efficiency.

However Ruíz is Atleti’s sixth coach since 2019 and simply looks like the following part-time answer earlier than the Colchoneras transfer on to the following. Though the current instillation of a brand new sporting director — Patricia González, who joined instantly from FIFA — speaks to a brand new period for the previous champions, the adjustments might want to run far deeper than only a new coach. — SL

Does each sport truly matter in Italy?

There’s a strong thought behind the second half of the Serie A season: when it splits into two mini-leagues to determine each European spots and relegation. It is not distinctive to Italy, and even girls’s soccer, however is meant to provide every remaining sport extra weight. In principle, the thought is a robust one; in observe — at the least proper now — the established order refuses to be upset.

On the face of it, Napoli (who’re at present heading for a relegation playoff) clinching a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria was an upset and a trigger for celebration, however the Tartarughine are nonetheless 12 factors adrift of the following group above them: Como.

Likewise, Inter’s 2-1 defeat at dwelling to leaders Roma was a robust efficiency that the hosts most likely did not should lose. However with fourth-placed Inter sitting 17 factors off high spot, (with Roma 10 factors away from Juventus in second), Roma’s march to the title appears inevitable.

With somewhat extra parity throughout the 2 mini leagues, there may but be extra room for drama and jeopardy. However, as it’s, it has been clear all season who’s on the high and backside. — SL