Bristol City 1-2 Arsenal: McCabe double fires Gunners to victory

Katie McCabe scored twice as Arsenal overcame resilient Bristol City in a full-blooded Women’s Super League clash in front of a crowd of more than 12,000 at Ashton Gate.

Arsenal enjoyed 80% possession over the course of the 90 minutes and deservedly took an early lead when McCabe netted with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area.

But the newly-promoted Robins refused to lie down and Rachel Furness headed them level nine minutes later with their only on-target effort of the match.

Pressure eventually told and McCabe fired the Gunners back in front with a thunderous strike from just inside the box on 59 minutes.

Arsenal introduced England forward Beth Mead after the break and fellow ACL victim Vivianne Miedema late on — but battling City produced their best defensive display of the season to make the Londoners work hard for their victory.

A second successive win sees the Gunners climb the table — but the Robins remain rooted to the bottom of the WSL after a fourth straight defeat.

Determined to build momentum following their 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Aston Villa, Arsenal bossed the opening exchanges and Caitlin Foord saw her angled shot come back off the post.

City failed to heed the warning and, when they only half-cleared a corner on seven minutes, McCabe made them pay, picking out the top right-hand corner  from 18 yards out.

City’s first foray into Arsenal territory produced an unexpected equaliser on 16 minutes, Furness ghosting in at the back post to head home from Jamie-Lee Napier’s pin-point cross and give a record Ashton Gate crowd for a women’s match something to cheer.

Despite dominating possession, winning 16 corners in all and mustering 24 attempts on goal, Arsenal struggled to breach a stubborn Robins defence, Russo sliding an excellent chance wide and Robins keeper Olivia Clark marking her WSL debut with a series of fine saves to stem the tide.

The second half followed a similar pattern with the visitors laying siege to the City goal, only to be repelled by opponents who staged a spirited rearguard action.

Clark pulled off a superb double save to deny Foord and Megan Connolly blocked a shot from Russo to prevent a certain goal. 

But relentless pressure eventually told in the 59th minute, the Robins again only half-clearing a corner and the unmarked McCabe smashing the ball into the roof of the net from 16 yards to restore Arsenal’s lead.

Thereafter, the Gunners employed their superior top-flight experience to manage the game, keeping the ball well and maintaining their concentration to deny battling City even a sniff of a second equaliser.

They could have scored a late clincher when Miedema sent Mead through and the ball ran to Foord, whose shot was cleared off the line by Napier.