Episode 11 The Women's Football Show

# oh, I feel so alive. # I feel so alive. Good evening. The WSL1 title

race resumed at the weekend with Chelsea wanted to close the gap on

Manchester City. Can they some in the spirit of 2015 or is the clock

ticking on their reign as champions? COMMENTATOR: And the FA Cup winners

are the league champions, it is double joy for Chelsea in 2015.

Manchester City are pretty relentless in this battle for

Chelsea with the WSL title. It has been a shocking week for Chelsea.

They have lost a cup final and now they had been beaten by their main

rivals in the title race. The advantage is with them but there is

still a long way to go. What a message of intent sent out by

Manchester City. Chelsea miss an opportunity to go top of the table.

Manchester City march on, still unbeaten. Arsenal beat Chelsea on

their own patch. What a significant result. Manchester City in control

of this game and in control of the title race. Yes, time is running out

for Chelsea if they are to retain their title because of the imperious

form of Manchester City and a certain Izzy Christiansen, who we

are happy to have tonight alongside with Rachel Browne. Welcome. We

begin at Academy stadium, where a win for their teammates would

increase City's lead at the top 213 points before Chelsea's at

Birmingham. -- to 13 points. Manchester City are three wins away

from securing the WSL1 title which seems inevitable. Two changes to the

team that beat Don caster 4-0 last time-out. Jill Scott returns and

Daphne ahead of Georgia Stanley -- Doncaster. The suite is on the

bench. Reading pushed Manchester City all the way when they met three

weeks gave. -- Swede. Two changes to the team that lost 2-1 eventually.

Kylie Davies returns to the starting 11. Nick Cushing staying relaxed

despite the title being tantalisingly close. It is passed

straight into the path. She Jane finds Ross. Oh, so close! And that

was a chance made out of a huge mistake. They tried to play it out

off the back and they were nearly given the ultimate punishment. Ross

smashes the crossbar. Rowe is pushed over. Appeals for a penalty. It was

Beatie, treading a fine line. The referee a move. City on the attack

once again. That was a great run from Lucy, who fires across. Jane

Ross, again, fails to break the deadlock. She got on the end of it.

Once again it is wide. Excellent run from Lucy Bronze and a terrific

challenge from Scott has put the ball out of harm's way. Decent

delivery, looking for Jill Scott. Oh, it is fumbled, still not

cleared. City starting the second half on the front foot. Now, what a

chance that was for City. The free kick is left to Duggan. In

towards the head of Beatie. And there it is! Manchester City finally

take the lead. Jan Beatie, from a pinpoint delivery by Tony Duggan,

Reading resistance finally broken and Manchester City scored their

31st goal of the season. Chambers will be bitterly disappointed that

the first side conceded so early in the second half after an impressive

defensive display in the first. Fletcher picks the loose ball up and

is challenged by Harris. Another delivery coming up, and it is not a

bad one but it is headed away by Beatie. Christiansen, now here is

Ross and Manchester City came that this up here on the break. They have

got numbers forward. Here is Scott. Christiansen evades her and Paris

was leaning back. She misses the target by some distance. Almost the

perfect counter attack by Manchester City. Bronze finds Ross, the

glancing header cannot find that, oh, but she has stolen it off

Maggie. She wants a free kick and she has got one just on the edge of

the penalty area, and she was clearly having her shirt pulled --

MacGee. Good decision by the referee, and it was outside the

area. And it is Steph Wharton with the freekick, and it is good, it is

very good! The keeper was rooted to the spot. Manchester City go two

goals are up and that should be that at the Academy Stadium and

Manchester City's March towards the WSL1 title continues -- two goals

up. We are frustrated that in the first half we created chances and

knew that we could be better but in the second half I thought we were

always in control and we didn't let the keeper had a save to make. For

us it is about maintaining momentum and keep going until the Arsenal

game next week. We have had a lot of teams come here and we have been to

a lot of teams who have sat back and hit us on the counter and Reading

are very good at that, organised, committed and strong. They have got

good players and they are a really good team. I have gone away from the

game utterly disappointed with silly fouls given away. We executed the

game plan well today. Manchester City didn't break us down. I have

come away from the game really frustrated because we could have

taken something today. Yeah, frustration for Reading, but

congratulations to you, Izzy. The gameplan almost worked. Yes, Reading

did everything they could to frustrate us. Both managers some of

the game nicely. You could say we are a little fortunate to come away

with three points. I think these images show very well how compact

Reading were and how they frustrated us. They are very quick to the

second balls and a limited the chances of going forward for us. All

credit to them. I think they nullified the usual threat of

Manchester City, the overlapping fullback, certainly down the right

side with Lucy Bronze. I think Harriet Scott did a good job of

denying Lucy Bronze the run of the pitch, and when they regained

possession they kept possession, they played tidy balls out of the

back through the midfield, they didn't just kick it, they wanted to

maintain possession, so it frustrated Manchester City who

couldn't implement their dominance. We see here tackle after tackle.

Every single player is very well drilled. There was no player,

certainly in the midfield, who were in five or six yards of another, and

after one tackle came in another came into tidy up. For the majority

of the game that manager, Kelly Chambers, was delighted with what

she saw, but the utter frustration from the manager with not defending

those set pieces which cost them. Yes, but top teams, if you switch

off for any amount of time, that is what they do, they punish you, and

this came from a nothing foul and what major city have is a real flair

with Steph Wharton, Jane Ross, it is a lovely ball in from Tony Duggan,

the inswing the right foot and basically Reading don't get tired.

They don't get tight, they don't have their arms across each other.

To try to beat that standing jump with Beatie, you are just never

going to do it, and she puts it away with ease, and City have their

reward on that. This one, the Reading captain should have cleared

her lion earlier, she has paid for it, she is tugging on Ross's shirt

and we have seen Steph Houghton, the signs are ominous, outside of the

box, right foot for club and country she tends to score. On this occasion

I don't think the wall did a very good job. We see on the end here,

Alan, the wall is disjointed, it is moving, she creeps towards the ball,

sorry, the walk is not solid, it doesn't help that, but not a bad

strike as well. Maybe the goalkeeper should have set up the wall, or were

they not doing the job? She has to set up the wall to her left or right

post. You have to trust that the wall will cover that half. On this

occasion, whoever's thought it was, we don't know. Should Redding have

had eight penalty? -- Reading have had a penalty? Definitely. Beatie

absolutely smashes into the back. 100% penalty. And you know, for

Reading to go ahead, this could have really changed the game. OK, well,

Manchester City's win puts pressure on Chelsea, the defending champions

who couldn't slip up against Birmingham who were aiming to extend

a ten match unbeaten run in WSL1. COMMENTATOR: Alongside the distant

pursuit of Manchester City, Chelsea find themselves chased in the race

for the Champions League. Birmingham are a contender in what has been a

remarkable season for them. And David Parker recalls two players

following the win over Liverpool. Chelsea captain Katie Chapman has

been brought in by Emma Hayes. Following Swedish heroics at the

Olympics, there is one on the bench, and Becky Spencer faces her old

club. And Birmingham are such a durable

unit defensively but they give the ball away here. Coming infield and

finding the net superbly! Oluko's hot streak continues and Katherine

Berger caught out at the near post and Aluko given the invitation and

she has completed its superbly. It is unlike Chelsea to make such an

uncertain start. Rafferty, and that is another good cross, and Karen

Carney scores against her former club! Understandably, there is no

celebration but Chelsea take a firm grip on this game with two goals in

the opening seven minutes. Another really well constructed goal, the

excellent cross from Rafferty and Carney ghosted in unmarked. Here is

Chapman, and now Carney and Davidson, it should be three, it is!

Chelsea's dominance continues, and following a five-week break, they

have made a blistering return to WSL. Gemma Davison with a typical

finish. Westwood, the ball straight to

Aluko, Birmingham cannot afford to do that. Here is Carney, it is Aluko

again, the goalkeeper makes the save button Ji makes it four and Chelsea

are simply irresistible here to date but it was Birmingham who gave the

ball away initially. Ji was there to make it 4-0.

Ji, oh, she rather sold herself short. Jackman, the effort drifted

over the top. Mel Lawley right at the end of the first half, but Ji

creating problems therefore Jilly Flaherty but Lawley unable to

capitalise. Well one from Westwood but she has

given the ball away again. Chapman finding Davison, and Davison of AIDS

Westwood and now Aluko and Rafferty should have made it five. -- aids.

Aluko finding Rafferty, and although she was closed down she will be

disappointed with that finish. And Birmingham city give the ball away

again. Here is Aluko. Now Borges. Three blue shirts around her. But

she found Carney, who is so unlucky. It rattles off the crossbar. Karen

Carney close to another goal. Real power behind that and Chelsea almost

make it five. And here was a long rundown field for Davison. And

Chelsea have missed some chances to make it five here. All the way from

Spencer. And Davison showing her pace. Chelsea really could have had

a hat full here. Convincing performance and importantly we

wanted a fast start because we know Birmingham are hard to break down

but it was a fabulous first half performance that made the

difference. We have gifted them for goals. We have put it on a plate for

them. We started horrendously. We conceded more goals in 25 minutes

than in the last four or 13 games -- four. Full credit to Chelsea who

were top drawer but it was nothing they did, we give them the ball in

their own half and they punished us. The pressures, you know, of course

is on us, but they have to play us, they have to play Birmingham at

Arsenal, so they have had three tough games, it is not over yet and

it won't be over if we put in performances like that. STUDIO: The

12 match unbeaten run coming to an end for Birmingham but they are

frustrated because they didn't help themselves. Not at all and not many

teams go to Birmingham and come away with a 4-0 win, normally it is one

goal in it, but Birmingham gave away possession so easily from the back

and midfield. They like to play out from the back but it was easy,

especially for Chelsea, Davison and Carney with so much pace. And you

back off and give space and she will slot the ball in every time. And Ji

and Aluko are a well oiled machine, they know where beat one is and that

was too easy. We see here again, Stringer gives away the ball for

Birmingham, Terris gets dragged across to leave it open for Davison

and another top-class player with a simple finish. Birmingham are not

normally this disorganised. They have evolved in the last 12 months

and as David Parker said they will be disappointed with their

performance and I am sure they will want to put it right. Ji, her

quality, playing it out why to Carney, pivotal in this game,

Birmingham are at sixes and sevens, they should have pushed out and

press the ball and then they should they should have pushed out and

have got out to make sure that Ji was offside for this particular

goal. They were at sea and it was out of character. Hopefully for

Birmingham just a blip in their performance. You mention Aluko.

Karen Carney scored in her first game. She has been in and out of the

season and the team this season but how instrumental what she? The

highlight show how instrumental she is. We have seen her in an England

shirt. Last time she got a hat-trick. She seems to be

instrumental to how Chelsea started in the game. She is creating an

scoring and making things happen. That is what you need. She plays so

well with pays out wide. Making things happen, it is so good to see

her doing well. She joins in so well. As they can play a year have

to be up and down the pitch. She has played out wide for England. --

player you have to be. She was everywhere in this game against

Birmingham. And she was instrumental in all of the goals. She can put a

tackle in when required. She is very strong. She can shield the ball. She

really has absolutely everything in her locker, from the short, tidy

passes to shielding the ball, spraying it out wide and seeing

those plays. She has 100 caps for her country. Is it better that she

is not relied upon at Chelsea as she was at Birmingham when she played

and wasn't anywhere near as fit. That is what Chelsea and Emma Hayes

do well. Managing players, training loads, what they do on a day-to-day

basis, how many minutes they train and assess whether they are fit and

ready to go out match day. Things are looking good at the top of the

table for you. You need two more wins from your final three games in

theory to guarantee winning the title. What is the feeling amongst

the players. -- amongst the players? We are satisfied. There is a long

way to go. The magnitude of the creams will suggest they will be

very difficult games. The mood within the camp is positive. We know

that we have to improve -- games. That has to be improved. I hold my

hand up. But as you say, we feel we have room for improvement, and that

is a good place to be. It won't be easy, because you have difficult

fixtures remaining. Arsenal away, that can be feisty. Chelsea at home,

that can be feisty. Birmingham at home as well, that can be feisty.

This WSL is extremely competitive. It is a cliche to say there are no

easy games but they are difficult matches. Yes, three fixtures we

wouldn't want at the end of the season. It is what it is. Last

season it went to the wire and this season it is going to do the same.

It is an exciting pinnacle and I hope that things go our way. If you

could leave it to the last minute for our benefit that would be lovely

thank you. More games to catch up on, Madeleine with Arsenal hoping to

maintain slim hopes of securing a Champions League slot with victory

over Notts County -- with Arsenal hoping. Arsenal arrived at Meadow

Lane after beating Notts County 3-0 at the last game. Find work here

from the Tim Watts, proving what would be a quiet start. One-on-one

with Walsh here and the Nigerian came out on top to put the Gunners

in front. With only two wins in the league this season, County were

breast of confidence but they were given hope when Ellen White was

beaten by their keep. The referee had little alternative but to issue

the red card. Despite the numerical advantage, Notts County were on the

offensive. A superb save prevented Arsenal's lead to double. However,

with this heavy deflation in the box, it couldn't cross the line and

it was a moment to forget for the goalkeeper. Jess Clarke was stand

out for the Lies in a difficult afternoon, but she could not finish

it at the death as Arsenal beat Notts County. Mathematically still

in the title race, their focus stays on the Champions League

qualification. Liverpool came into the meeting with Doncaster unbeaten

in six matches with Bells yet to get off the mark in WSL1. It could have

been and other heavy defeat for the Bells buffer uninspired -- but for

an inspired performance from the keeper. She was called into action

here and Hobbs did well to tip the ball over the bar to give the game

level. Having rarely threatened, Don caster had the best chance of the

game. This unorthodox ball brought it in but she couldn't beat the

keeper. It was to be costly. Three minutes after the restart, Liverpool

got the winner. Natasha Harding's strike worthy. The keeper unable to

do anything about that beautiful curled effort. Scott Rogers' team

could have doubled their advantage. This header was cleared a wave with

Sophie Barker. Liverpool make it seven games unbeaten. Don caster are

still searching for their first points in the WSL1 this season.

STUDIO: Don caster still at the foot of the table. They are still

awaiting their first point of the season -- Doncaster. They have three

games in hand on Sunderland and two on Reading, although they have

superior goal difference. If Don -- Doncaster do go down, who will climb

up to the top-flight? Everton emerged victorious after earning a

fortuitous ninth minute penalty. Alan was judged to have fouled Kelly

Jones. She despatched the spot kick which was the decisive goal as Ali

Spencer's team move them to points of their opponents, who sit in

second place. Yeovil miss the opportunity to extend their lead at

the top, they drew 1-1 at Sheffield. Durham kept up the pressure on the

top three with a 2-1 win over Oxford. So, you have an exciting day

on Thursday. You will be glued to the women's Champions League draw.

In it for the first time. You could get a massive club. What do you

think Wasilla it is exciting and I can't wait to see who we are going

to face. -- what you think about it? It is exciting. Hopefully we can see

how we do, basically, so I am excited. It would be great to see.

Rachel, goalkeeping perspective, your old mate Hope Solo in the

Olympics, a little gamesmanship? And I think so. This is the

quarter-final game. Sweden against USA penalty shootout. Here we have

got Hope Solo changing her gloves, making sure she delays this, making

her way, but we see she picked the wrong way. She is my teammate and

she said she chose the wrong player to do that too. She is mentally one

of the strongest players she has ever played with. It didn't faze her

at all. She has despatched the penalty and away they go to the

semifinals. After the game she hit the headlines big-time, didn't she,

for calling Sweden a bunch of cowards for the way that they sat

back in that game. She was suspended for six months by US soccer. What is

your take on that? She said she is not good at losing. You have to have

a professional mentality and attitude. So, you know, US Soccer,

they make the decision, she will only Mr Mac games but she is

certainly an outspoken character. It wasn't perhaps at... -- she will

only miss two games. Is it the cumulative effect of various

misdemeanours are the last two months? She certainly has previous,

left estate, has Hope Solo, so I think that is possibly one of the

reasons why it is possible. Six-month out for Hope Solo, not as

long until we are back, though there is a break until we return on Monday

the 25th of September when we have the best of the action from what

could be the title decider with Manchester City aiming to dethrone

Chelsea, that is at 11:15pm on BBC Two. Before that you can see

England's final European Championships unqualified against

Estonia on Thursday the 15th of September, live on BBC Two at

7:05pm. You scored against them in your first match of international

football, so another one of those. Thank you to both of you. A big win

for Chelsea. It looks like it might be a matter of time before City are

crowned champions of England. to America's biggest

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