Post-Match Report

Bristol City 1-6 Arsenal: How it happened

Emma Mitchell celebrates with Danielle van de Donk

Bristol City Women -

Stoke Gifford Stadium
Barclays Women's Super League
Barclays Women's Super League
  Bristol City Women
      
              C. Arthur (67)
          
   crest
Bristol City Women
C. Arthur (67)
1 6
  Arsenal Women
      
                  Van de Donk  (21
                   71)
                   Little (28)
                   Williamson (30)
                   Mead (38)
                   28875 (45)
            
   crest
Arsenal Women
Van de Donk (21
71)
Little (28)
Williamson (30)
Mead (38)
28875 (45)

WHAT HAPPENED

We rounded off the WSL season in style with a 6-1 win at Bristol City - but it was not enough to seal a place in next season’s Champions League.

Joe Montemurro's men went into the final day knowing that they had to better Manchester City's result to leapfrog them into second place and secure a European spot.

But with our rivals beating Everton, it meant we had to settle for third spot - although we went out on a high. 

We almost went in front early on when Dominique Janssen’s free kick was palmed away by home goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley, who then tipped Louise Quinn’s header from the resulting corner against the bar.

But the floodgates soon opened when Danielle Van de Donk was presented with a simple header from a Jordan Nobbs corner.

We increased our lead on 28 minutes from the penalty spot, Kim Little firing low to Baggaley’s right after Danielle Carter had been brought down by Danique Kerkdijk.

Our third arrived almost immediately, Leah Williamson getting the final touch in a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

Beth Mead smashed home a right-footed 30-yarder before the break to make it four, and the fifth arrived on the stroke of the interval when substitute Katie McCabe showed strength inside the box to hold off her marker to turn and fire home.

Bristol City began to give a better account of themselves after the break and found the net after 66 minutes when Chloe Arthur chipped the ball over Anna Moorhouse from 25 yards.

Lauren Hemp then sent an angled shot over the top, but the five-goal margin was restored in the 71st minute when Van de Donk bagged her second of the game, nodding home at the far post from Little’s cross.

WHAT IT MEANS

WSL table after the final day of the season

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