Crystal Dunn and Heather O’Reilly will have to wait for bragging rights after 2-2 draw in their first meeting in England. (photo: Chelsea Ladies)
Both played out wide for their respective sides and played important roles in the game, but they will have to be satisfied with a share of the spoils after two goals in extra time, Chelsea scoring in the 92nd minute after a nice layoff by Dunn to Drew Spence, and Arsenal in the 94th minute through Jordan Nobbs, with O’Reilly playing a part in the move.
The two will now have to wait until September, at least, before they face off again.
On the draw Dunn said: “It was a bit of a shock and it is never a good feeling when you give up a goal the last seconds of the game. I can tell the rivalry was there and any team could have walked away with it.”
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O’Reilly enjoyed the battle with Chelsea, and believed the result was probably right.
“It was end to end and it was a fun match for me – rainy, a good battle and two really good teams looking to play – it had a bit of everything,” she said. “I guess a draw is a fair result. I am happy with the fight in our team.”
The Equalizer reported last week on how Carli Lloyd won the Women’s FA Cup with Manchester City Women after their 4-1 win over Birmingham City Ladies. Next Thursday, Lloyd will welcome Dunn and Chelsea, before O’Reilly makes the same journey when City host Arsenal three days later.
In France, Alex Morgan was forced to sit out the French Cup Final following a hamstring injury last week that could rule her out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final.
Her side defeated rivals PSG 7-6 on penalties after the final finished 1-1 in normal time. The two will meet again in Cardiff on June 1st, with Morgan taking things “day by day” as she races to be healthy for the European showpiece.
Gina Lewandowski and her Bayern Munich side achieved a big 4-0 win away from home at Turbine Potsdam at the weekend that moved the side into second, leapfrogging Potsdam into a Champions League position. With one game left of the Frauen Bundesliga, Bayern are now in the driving seat to secure that second spot.
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In Sweden, Ella Masar McLeod and her FC Rosengard side suffered a shock defeat to Hammarby, leaving them in third and six points behind leaders Linkoping. There was a goal for Sarah Teegarden and a start for Savannah Levin in Gothenburg’s 2-2 draw with Pitea, which leaves them a point behind Masar’s Rosengard. Unfortunately, former Orlando midfielder Becky Edwards and teammate Brett Maron find themselves bottom of the Damallsvenskan table after another defeat, this time to Djurgarden.
In Norway, there was a second win of the season for Valerenga as they won 2-0 away at Kolbotn (incidentally former Dash’s midfielder Rachael Axon’s most recent club before retiring), which meant a clean sheet for Michelle Betos. Stephanie Verdoia played 90 minutes, while Elise Krieghoff played the final half an hour.
Finally, having not been involved for Glasgow City for a few weeks, Savannah Jordan has now left the club. After a solid start to life in Scotland, which included a hat-trick for the club, it now appears that things have not worked out, with Scottish media reporting she is no longer with the club.
