London Bees 0-4 Birmingham City (Attendance: 398)
Despite London Bees’ historic campaign in this year’s FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup, which has seen them knock out WSL1 Champions Chelsea, Birmingham City were the side to book a place in the final after a dominant performance at The Hive.
The Blues entered half time with a well earned one goal lead from Linett’s low header and they further capitalised on their advantage when Kerys Harrop headed home Hegerberg’s corner to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute. That wasn’t the only problem Andrine Hegerberg’s corners caused for London Bees when keeper Davies struggled to keep the delivery out of her own net in injury time, the own goal followed Welling’s 30-yard strike into the top-right corner to put the Bees out of their misery at 4-0.
Birmingham City defender Aoife Manion was quick to give credit to her opposition stating that “they [London Bees] deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have done”, she added that “we’re really excited for the final, it’s going to be a tough game either way”. London Bees boss Emma Beckett reacted to the defeat by saying “I’d be lying if I say I wasn’t disappointed, but we are massively proud of what we have achieved to get this far to get to the semi-final”.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal (Attendance: 1,643)
It was all WSL1 in the other Continental Tyre Cup semi-final as Arsenal visited Manchester City where both teams looked to place themselves in the final against Birmingham City. In the end it was Arsenal who failed to defend the title in a narrow defeat at the Academy Stadium, the first time they have not reached the final in the cup’s history.
The chances were in favour of Arsenal throughout the match as Oshoala piled on the pressure during the first half; van de Donk could only manage to strike the ball over the crossbar. Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock again in the second half when Danielle Carter’s powerful strike hit the cross bar but moments after it was a tap in from Jennifer Beattie in the 76thminute that decided the game. The addition of Kelly Smith to Arsenal’s attack almost paid off in the 85thminute but the striker’s close range effort was cleared off the line by skipper Houghton.
Right-back Alex Scott thought that it was Arsenal who should’ve come away with the win but Man City’s Steph Houghton never had any doubt “when a chance falls to Jen Beattie, I’ve got every faith she’ll stick it in the back of the net”.
