Newcastle United Women went into their League Cup clash with top club Manchester City firing on the last chance to stay in the competition after losing to Nottingham Forest in their first group match.
With the league games getting underway, manager Becky Langley was given the opportunity to rotate her squad and give minutes to some of her players who might not have played in recent games.
Claudia Moan got a recall in goal, with Małgorzata Grec making her first home start in defence. Charlotte Wardlaw also returned to the line-up, albeit in an unfamiliar right-back role, with Elyssia Boddy in midfield and Freya Gregory in attack.
There were 3,012 fans in Gateshead International Stadium.
The stand at the other end was first used to accommodate the two coach loads of visiting supporters.
Match report
Manchester City arrived on Sunday as one of the top four sides in the country, with a wealth of talent from around the world and riding a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
However, all that made no difference as Newcastle took a shock lead in the eleventh minute. After applying pressure early, they forced City onto the back foot and were able to create chances.
Man City’s England goalkeeper Khiara Keating was forced to tip Jordan Nobbs’ effort around the post after a defensive giveaway before being left without a chance two minutes later when Lois sent Joel flying from distance for the second weekend in a row. A stunning effort from 25 yards found the top corner of the net after possession was stolen back.
It could have been 2-0 shortly afterwards but Emily Murphy missed a great opportunity to play Freya Gregory on the left for a simple tap-in, instead going herself and shooting straight at Keating.
In a frustrating first half for Man City, Spain’s World Cup winner Leila Ouahabi sliced a volley wide with a gaping goal after an excellent team move on the counter-attack involving Bunny Shaw. Before Aoba Fujino, who looked the most creative for the visitors, hit the crossbar five minutes later after another sharp run into the penalty area.
But as half-time approached, teenage sensation Iman Beney took over for Man City. She had scored in each of the previous two games against Arsenal and Liverpool and it was her tenacity that created the equalizer for Laura Coombs as she managed to escape the attentions of Demi Stokes on the right. It would be the last kick of the half.
Beney repeated the trick early in the second half with a clever reverse ball through a crowd of bodies and found Japan International Yui Hasegawa to fire home from a tight angle for Man City’s first lead of the match.
Newcastle continued to put up a great fight with Małgorzata Grec throughout. She kept WSL top scorer Bunny Shaw quiet throughout the match in an interesting subplot. Shaw only got behind the Polish defender once and even then Grec recovered well to cross her opponent before sliding through on goal.
But a third Manchester City goal came shortly afterwards from a corner as Claudia Moan’s strike went into the air, allowing Gracie Prior to bundle the ball over the line through a crowd of bodies.
The visitors were able to introduce quality players from the bench such as the English lioness Alex Greenwood and the Dutch European Championship winner Vivianne Miedema. The latter was unable to get into the match thanks to Newcastle’s disciplined defence. The only moment of note was when the former Arsenal striker threw himself to the ground to win a free-kick, which was easily dealt with.
Despite facing Man City’s dominant possession, Newcastle kept their opponents on their toes. Substitute Shania Hayles led a break before playing in Nobbs. But the former England International’s efforts lacked the power to trouble Keating. She would get a second chance moments later after Keating could only hit a Gregory cross into her path on the edge of the area. But in persistent rain, Nobbs slipped and her volley narrowly cleared the crossbar.
The hosts provided a nerve-wracking last ten minutes, while the rain continued to fall from the sky. Freya Gregory fired a vicious dipping effort from the left, from the far post. It was the winger’s first goal of the season and she did well to take on Kerstin Casparij in the build-up before unleashing her powerful effort.
With the match just two minutes into stoppage time, Emily Murphy’s long-range effort headed wide before Hayles managed to steer the ball into the net for an incredible late equalizer.
As this is a League Cup match, both teams will receive a point before taking part in a shootout to determine which side would collect the extra point. The Lasses opted to go first, with Shania Hayles, Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden, Emily Murphy and Jordan Nobbs all finding the net.
Playing for Man City, we watched as Kirsten Casparij, Yui Hasegawa and Vivianne Miedema all scored with ease, while United goalkeeper Claudia Moan gave a hand to Bunny Shaw and Alex Greenwood’s efforts but could not prevent them from converting their penalties. She then pushed Leila Ouahabi’s shot onto the post, but could not prevent it from going over the line.
Sudden death ensued and Freya Gregory sent her penalty with confidence as the shot went down and in. But when Keating dived to his left to save Demi Stokes’ try in round seven of the shootout, it was left to Laura Blinkilde-Brown to step up and seal the bonus point for the visitors.
The outcome of the shootout was irrelevant. Newcastle had just matched one of the best sides in the country.
Newcastle initiated: Claudia Moan, Charlotte Wardlala, Aife van Mannion, Małgorzata, Demi Stokes (c), Lois Joel (Deanna 75), Jordan Nobbles, Elysia Boddy, Elysia van Nobbies (Save Hayles 59), Oona van de Sevistant Various Various Various Various Severy. 75), Emily 75), Emily 75), Emily 75), Emily 75), Emily 75), Emiy Murphy, Freyspor 75), Euny said 75), Bire sunny
Subs not used: Femke Liefting, Ava Chapman, Lucy Gilbert, Abbie Richardson, Ella Baker, Amelia Freeman
Manchester City: Khiara Keating, Naomi Layzell (Kerstin Casparij 75′), Gracie Prior, Jade Rose (Alex Greenwood 64′), Leila Ouahabi, Iman Beney, Sydney Lohmann (Laura Blindkilde Brown 64′), Yui Hasegawa, Laura Coombs (C), Aoba Fujino (Vivianne Miedema 64′), Bunny Shaw.
Subs not used: Eartha Cumings, Laura Wienroither, Codie Thomas, Amelia Oldroyd, Millie Burdon.
Where is Newcastle United Women
The shootout defeat leaves Newcastle bottom of the cup group with just one point. Man City moved to five points and are top of the table after Everton and Nottingham Forest played out a 1-1 draw before the Toffees earned the extra point. Man City will go on to win their group if they avoid defeat in their final match at Field Mill. While Newcastle’s final match will be at home to Everton in five weeks’ time, with both teams already mathematically eliminated.
United midfielder Morgan Gautrat has been nominated for the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 Player of the Month award for October. The American international scored a late goal straight from a corner in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. The two-time World Cup winner has been shortlisted for the award alongside Charlton Athletic’s Jodie Hutton, Durham’s Catriona Sheppard and Southampton’s Jess Simpson.
The Lasses’ Lois Joel has also been shortlisted for the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 October Goal of the Month award. The Wales international’s sensational strike earned the Magpies a point in the 2-2 draw with Bristol City earlier this month, and earned her a nomination for the monthly award. She has been nominated alongside Charlton Athletic’s Jodie Hutton, Portsmouth’s Georgie Freeland, Nottingham Forest’s Hollie Olding and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Bristol City’s Vicky Losada.
What’s coming
Incredibly, the next day, after a draw with Man City, Newcastle announced they were parting ways with manager Becky Langley. No reason was given for the decision, but it is believed that the slow start to the competition and the team being ranked ninth out of twelve after half a dozen games in the second tier were behind it.
Whatever the case, it’s sad to see a likeable individual who brought passion to the role leave, especially after what was arguably the most important result in the club’s history.
An interim coaching structure will be put in place while a successor is appointed. Although there should be no shortage of candidates for one of the biggest jobs in women’s football.
With the Lasses on International Break, there are still two weeks before the next league match away to Ipswich Town. Hopefully a new manager will come in to take over as soon as possible.
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