CHELSEA MOVED nine points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League as Guro Reiten’s 84th-minute penalty secured a 1-0 victory over third-placed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
A scrappy encounter looked to be drifting towards a stalemate when two substitutes turned the tide for Sonia Bompastor’s side in a dramatic finale.
Lauren James, having been sent on in the 57th minute to try to breathe life into a flat display, did exactly that. Having burst past Mariona Caldentey, she cut inside and was tripped by a desperate tackle from Kim Little.
In the aftermath, Ireland international Katie McCabe was shown a second yellow card, seemingly for dissent. Once Reiten had converted the resulting spot-kick, it left the visitors facing an uphill battle.
For McCabe, there may be more consequences to come after she kicked the tunnel on her way off the pitch, a hugely frustrating end to a game that Renee Slegers’ side had probably edged.
Chelsea paraded world-record signing Naomi Girma on the pitch before kick-off, the 24-year-old United States defender having joined the champions earlier on Sunday for a reported £900,000 (€1 million) from San Diego Wave.
She has some attitude
Big mouth on her
She’s needs to be taken down a peg or two.
The number of successful Irish athletes, musician’s, successfull irish people in general that the experts on here love putting down, sure is growing.
Beggars believe really and the majority of them are in fact sitting on their couch typing the drivel, without having achieved a tenth of what the person they’re talking about. We really hate seeing success don’t we?
@Kevin Dillon: So Katie McCabe is above criticism? She has an attitude, a very poor one. There’s another Katie she could learn a lot from
@Kevin Dillon: its discusting kevin
@Kevin Dillon: 100 percent right sick off them
Great play irish legend
What a player
@Seanie: Our most talented player by a mile but not playing well at the moment and her indiscipline is causing problems. Booked twice for dissent today and still mouthing when leaving the field. Should have been sent off in both play off legs v Wales for Ireland. I would imagine she is frustrated with her own poor form but needs to sort this side of her game out. Be great to see her doing her talent justice again.
Cmon knuckle draggers, sensational story here….player gets sent off.
She might be a very good player but she is not a very good role model. Imagine every player mouthing off like her.
@Joseph Fitzgibbon: Yeahs only inspired thousands of girls to play footie in Ireland. My Daughter plays for the local team and 50% of the girls wear McCabe jerseys. But you are totally right getting sent off once undoes all the incredible work she’s done so far. She’s also turned up to a few different local clubs to watch and give the girls a quick chat but yeah honestly that red card really takes away all she’s done. Donut!