A cup final awaits at Ashton Gate in Bristol on Sunday 15th March for Marc Skinner’s side against defending champions Chelsea, after Elisabeth Terland capitalised on Arsenal’s error to score the only decisive goal.
Arsenal were the architects of their own downfall by their lack of conviction in front of goal, and by their costly mistakes when playing out from the back.
Just before half-time, new signing Ellen Wangerheim intercepted a loose pass from Anneke Borbe and Terland instinctively finished past the rooted goalkeeper.
Olivia Smith committed a reckless challenge in a harmless area deep into United territory and was penalised with a second yellow card with half-an-hour to play.
The same problems cropped up for Renee Slegers from an Arsenal perspective, with the one-man disadvantage hampering their chances further.
Another piece of history attained in the Skinner era for United, who can look forward to March’s final.
Story of the Match
A different setting from when these sides last met at the Emirates just 11 days ago, in a second successive WSL stalemate. A smaller, compact pitch at Arsenal’s other home ground in Borehamwood under the lights in blustering and rainy conditions.
Renee Slegers made five changes from Arsenal’s 2-0 victory in the fourth round of the FA Cup as Emily Fox dropped out due to injury and Daphne van Domselaar returned to the squad as a substitute.
Lotte Wubben-Moy captained the side again after Leah Williamson sustained a calf injury.
Marc Skinner could spread minutes around the squad in their FA Cup win against third tier Burnley, but fielded his strongest available side once more, including a full debut for new signing Ellen Wangerheim.
Jayde Riviere was also reinstated at right-back after serving a suspension from her red card at Arsenal, and she would have to fend off Caitlin Foord instead of Olivia Smith on the flank.
Unlike their last two encounters ending in draws, a winner to advance the Subway Women’s League Cup final had to be found.
Skinner had urged his players to switch their mentality and placed emphasis on showing more aggression with the ball. As a WSL trophy gradually drifts out of reach for both, a shot at silverware this season in this competition would be valuable.
A familiar theme from the tie at the Emirates to start, which seemed to have picked up where it left off.
Inside the first minute, Alessia Russo delivered a cross to Frida Maanum, only for Phallon Tullis-Joyce to get down to her left and repel the Norwegian’s close-range header. A lack of conviction in front of goal and Tullis-Joyce was equal to the task.
At the second time of asking, Maanum couldn't put her header either side of United’s goalkeeper, after **Katie McCabe**’s cross was poorly cleared by Anna Sandberg.
The visitors had been penned into defending their own half in the opening stages with Arsenal’s crossing and lurking, onrushing attackers issuing warning signs, still to no avail.
A rare sight of goal to shift the momentum momentarily for The Red Devils presented itself. Jessica Park’s ball-carrying prowess yielded a foul and a yellow card for Smith. United went on to have their best chance from the free-kick, albeit Wangerheim’s tame header was collected comfortably by Anneke Borbe.
By their own making, Arsenal almost gifted their opponents a golden opportunity as Simi Awujo slipped in Elisabeth Terland.
Katie McCabe cut across her in the area, but the referee adjudged her contact to be minimal and swiftly waved away any appeals. Slightly aggrieved, Manchester United’s opportunities didn’t halt.
Park’s pass through the lines was perfectly weighted for Wangerheim to pounce, but Laia Codina’s alert defending averted the danger. As United continued to edge higher in their press, they forced Arsenal into a mistake building out from the back.
Borbe’s naive pass was intercepted by Wangerheim and Mariona Caldentey’s desperate attempt to track back could not spare her goalkeeper’s blushes.
To mark her 50th appearance in a United shirt, Terland stroked Wangerheim’s prodded pass into the corner to give her side the advantage on the stroke of half-time.
In Arsenal’s pursuit for an equaliser, another chance fell to Maanum, but her sliced, wayward effort would leave Tullis-Joyce untroubled and force Slegers to eventually withdraw her in favour of Stina Blackstenius.
Arsenal’s left-sided threat would almost find the leveller. Foord’s caressed ball into the path of Victoria Pelova was cut back into the area Arsenal had constantly flooded. Alessia Russo was the latest Gunners player culpable of spurning a straightforward chance, unable to find the target.
Slegers was then left scratching her head when Smith went steaming in needlessly on Julia Zigiotti Olme, and the referee had no choice but to brandish a second yellow card for Arsenal’s winger.
A different task to tackle for the side with ten players this time out, as Arsenal would need to push the pace in their bid to force extra-time instead of setting up a defensive rearguard like United did at the Emirates.
Caldentey mustered a shot on-target for the hosts, starting a patient and incisive Arsenal move, and firing to Tullis-Joyce’s near post. With the angle always working against the Spaniard, Tullis-Joyce could fancy her chances to push the ball wide of her goal.
As Arsenal toiled to salvage their high hopes in this competition, Wangerheim combined with substitute Melvine Malard. With time to pick her spot, she blazed her effort over the bar and gave Arsenal somewhat of a fighting chance.
Noticeably, there was a recognition from the away side to manage the game and see out the remainder of the semi-final by tiring Arsenal out and keeping possession when they could.
A slender one-goal lead was the reality to still defend. Off the bench, Smilla Holmberg’s attacking side shone, exploiting United down their left side, but the new signing was unable to add the finish.
The story of Arsenal’s shortcomings in their fixtures, particularly against Man United, has been a lack of cutting edge, and they paid the price as they will miss a second successive Subway Women’s League Cup final.
Ultimately, United overcame Arsenal at the third time of asking this season, and Skinner’s time at the helm has earned The Red Devils another deserved shot at silverware in March’s final.