Women's football: Sunderland push Arsenal all the way
Brave Sunderland pushed Arsenal all the way before being beaten in the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday.
Kim Little, who scored the winner in last season's final against the Wearsiders, proved the difference between the teams with an extra-time hat-trick to seal progress for the Gunners.
Sunderland, though, were not helped by an injury to goalkeepr Rachael Laws which restricted her movement in the extra half-hour.
The game began at a frantic pace with Arsenal eager for revenge following their shock league defeat at Hetton in November.
Laws was twice called into action early on to deny Rachel Yankey and Gemma Davison.
At the other end, a Steph Bannon free-kick was headed wide by Natalie Gutteridge before Demi Stokes' powerful forward run was halted by Chapman.
Sunderland were growing in confidence and causing Arsenal problems as the game swayed from end to end.
Sarah Danby and Jordan Nobbs combined well to create a chance, while Little was denied by Laws.
The keeper then shone again by smothering a shot from Helen Lander who had gone clear, while Gilly Flaherty headed wide when well placed.
Arsenal poured forward but the visitors' defence held firm.
In a Sunderland attack, Kelly McDougall set up Lucy Staniforth to whip in a dangerous cross which was scrambled behind for a corner.
After the break, the home side continued to push forward. Yankey struck the crossbar with a shot, and then fired wide when under pressure from Lucy Bronze.
Arsenal finally broke the deadlock after 66 minutes following a scramble in the Sunderland box and when Lander's effort came back off the bar, Katie Chapman was on hand to head home.
There was a worry for Sunderland when keeper Laws picked up an injury in a clash, but after having her leg strapped she was able to continue.
The Wearsiders would not lie down, however, and Nobbs' run was only halted by desperate Arsenal defending, before good link-up play between McDougall and Stokes was scrambled behind for a corner.
Sunderland's late pressure paid off as, with only seconds remaining,
Nobbs had a shot deflected into the goal by defender Ciara Grant.
The Gunners then took control with a quick double from Kim Little to ease their nerves.
The home side were able to relax a little and take advantage of gaps as Sunderland battled for a way back into the game.
The second period of extra-time saw the home side happy to invite Sunderland forward and hit them on the break, and a third goal from Scottish star Little finished off the scoring.
Manager Mick Mulhern praised his side's performance today.
"It was an excellent display and we deserved to take Arsenal to extra-time," he said.
"Unfortunately our keeper injured her knee late in the second half and her mobility was restricted during extra-time. Arsenal made the most of that and punished us.
"But I'm very proud of my young team. We came out of the game with lot of credit and we made Arsenal work hard to reach the next round."
Sunderland: Laws, Holmes (Bronze), Bannon, Wilson, Devine, Staniforth, Nobbs, McDougall, Stokes, Danby (Salicki), Gutteridge (Halliday).
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Friday 10 February 2012
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