Arsenal overhauled Reading with a late rally in a pulsating Continental Tyres Cup semi-final. The match ended when Jordan Nobbs scored an 83rd-minute winner for the Gunners, who had been 2-1 down with just 10 minutes to go.
Arsenal went ahead as early as the fifth minute when Beth Mead turned home a low cross but Reading drew level a minute later as Brooke Chaplen cut in from the left to curl the equaliser beyond the goalkeeper.
Lauren Bruton made it 2-1 to Reading when she struck a shot from the edge of the area. A dramatic last 10 minutes settled the match as Vivianne Miedema kept her composure to equalise before Nobbs lobbed an unsuspecting Grace Moloney to send Arsenal into the final.
Manchester City will be Arsenal’s opponents in the final thanks to Nadia Nadim’s second goal in as many appearances for the club which was enough to get past Chelsea at Kingsmeadow. The Denmark international intelligently found space in the area to ensure she got on the end of a Jill Scott cross to make it 1-0.
There were no more goals in the game but Scott and Nikita Parris had chances to make life more comfortable for the Women’s Super League leaders and their failure to take those almost cost City, as they relied on Karen Bardsley was forced to deny Hannah Blundell with a great one-handed save when the Chelsea defender was through on goal.
In the Women’s Super League, Aoife Mannion made no mistake from the spot for Birmingham City after Bristol City goalkeeper Caitlin Leach brought down Sarah Mayling in the box. The hosts doubled their lead just after the hour when Marisa Ewers crossed for Charlie Wellings to drive home to complete the 2-0 victory.
The Blues’ victory moves them up to seventh the table, level on points with Bristol City who are one place below them.
