Report: Bristol City Women 0-4 Arsenal Women

What happened?

Miedema had the first clear cut chance of the game for the visitors as she burst into the City Women box and let off a thunderous left-footed strike, but Baggaley produced a fine save to keep the striker at bay. 

The visitors opened the scoring in the twelfth minute of the game, Leah Williamson’s ball into the box was not dealt with by the City Women defence which lead to Jordan Nobbs picking up the loose ball and firing a shot past Baggaley in the City goal. 

As the first half progressed City Women began to grow into the game with the midfield trio of Carla Humphrey, Julie Biesmans and Lucy Graham pulling the strings and confidently moving the ball around the park. 

Miedema doubled Arsenal’s lead in the fortieth minute with a low strike into the bottom corner after finding herself in space in the City Women box.

Oxtoby’s side had a half chance before the first period was out as Van Veenendaal’s attempted clearance fell to Lucy Graham, who looked to pick out Juliette Kemppi in the box but Gunners’ defender, Louise Quinn rose highest to clear the danger.

Entering the second half Bristol City began to spread the ball across the pitch, popping short passes between one another and with increased ball retention came increased confidence.

Arsenal had their opportunities, but Sophie Baggaley produced a fine double save from Nobbs and then Miedema to keep the score at two-nil.

The introduction of Rosella Ayane for Juliette Kemppi bought an injection of pace into the Bristol City attack as the hosts went in search of a goal at the SGS College Stoke Gifford. 

One of Ayane’s driving runs at the Arsenal defence created a chance for Ella Rutherford, but the forward couldn’t keep her attempt on target as she shot over the bar.

Baggaley again produced a fantastic double save to keep Miedema out, the FAWSL and PFA September Player of the Month bravely met Miedema’s first effort and followed it up with a second save from close range. 

The visitors went on to double their lead in the closing minutes with two quick-fire goals. 

First, Miedema’s glancing header bounced in off the woodwork and then the striker went in search of a hat-trick, but her shot was parried and fell to Danielle Van De Donk, who added a fourth. 

Teams:

Bristol City Women:

Baggaley, Dykes (C), Evans, Brown, Kerkdijk, Pattinson, Biesmans, Humphrey, Graham, Rutherford (Woolley 80’), Kemppi (Ayane 61’)

Subs: Watson (GK), Johnson, Rood, Payne, Wilson, Robinson 

Arsenal Women:

Van Veenendaal, Mitchell (Samuelsson 67’), Williamson, Van De Donk, Nobbs, Miedema, McCabe, Quinn, Evans, Walti,  Bloodworth

Subs: Payraud-Magnin, Mead, Kuyken