Referee Emily Heaslip shows Manchester City player Alex Greenwood a red card. .eip.telegraph.co.uk/3708ad62-62a6-42ce-a994-89b1b81f5883.html?direct=true&id=3708ad62-62a6-42ce-a994-89b1b81f5883&truncated=false&expandable=false” class=”tmg-particle sport-widget” WRP – 3708ad62-62a6-42ce-a994-89b1b81f5883″ name=”Match summary: Manchester City vs Chelsea data-truncated=”false” data-business-type=”editorial” loading=”eager” Scrolling=”no ” Frameborder=” 0″ style=”width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: static; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0 px;”>
96th Guro Reiten An equalizer denied nine Manchester City women victory in an action-packed WSL clash that centered on referee Emily Heaslip.
The Suffolk official showed 11 yellow cards, including one to City manager Gareth Taylor, including dismissals of Alex Greenwood in the 38th minute and Lauren Hemp nine minutes from the end of normal time.
< p>Heaslip He was escorted out by security at the end of the game as the home fans showed their disapproval by playing 13 minutes of stoppage time, during which Reiten equalized Chloe Kelly's early goal.
“If the referees follow these new rules, there will be games like this a lot,” Taylor said. “I felt the same way last weekend when there were two red cards [against West Ham].
“We've gone from here to here in how we interpret these rules. There were 11 yellows and two reds, and it wasn't a malicious play at all.
“I'm just thinking, let's slow down. If not, we will have an eight-player league if they are consistent. I don't think it just destroyed me, it destroyed everyone. I talked to Emma [Hayes] halfway through the break and we just looked at each other.
“We had three cards in two games, so if you didn't see us you might think we were a dirty team, but no one who saw us would think that. I'd like to keep 11 players on the field.”
Heaslip waves a yellow card again, this time City manager Gareth Taylor Photo : Reuters/Molly Darlington
The most controversial moment came in the 38th minute when Greenwood, who had previously been booked for a foul on Jessie Fleming, was booked for wasting time as she prepared to take a free-kick deep in the City half.< /p>
There was an estimated 26-second delay between Heaslip taking a free-kick for City and sending off a defender who appeared to actually be waiting for his teammates to advance further.
This decision led enraged the sold-out crowd at Joey Stadium and the home players, whose discipline was on Greenwood's side. Kelly and Laia Aleixandri were booked immediately after the red and Jill Roord after the half-time whistle.
By the time Hemp was booked in the 67th minute for another outburst, Heaslip had already put in a fine performance. eight yellows in total, with City contributing one for wasting time and four for dissent.
The carnage was not over and in the 81st minute Hemp was booked for a foul on Lauren James, receiving a yellow card. which reduced City's number to nine, with Taylor quickly joining his players in fighting their own dissent.
Erratic refereeing dominated what should have been an exhibition clash between the two potential early-season WSL champions.
It all started with Kelly's goal as Taylors' side made a stunning attacking debut and Zekira Musovic was forced into field. good early saves from Rood and Hemp.
Seven minutes later Mary Fowler's pass was blocked by Niamh Charles into the path of Kelly, whose 20-yard shot deflected off Jess Carter before rounding Musovic into the Chelsea goal ”
Chloe Kelly! Wow 🤩#BarclaysWSL @ManCityWomen pic.twitter.com/mv5uG2u8MY
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 8, 2023
Chelsea finally started to create chances by the time they had a one-man advantage, although it was only in the closing stages that they really troubled the impressive teenagers. goalkeeper Hiara Keating.
In the 78th minute, James struck the crossbar from 25 yards and was eventually beaten by Keating and the chances continued into stoppage time, with Millie Bright hitting the crossbar with a header in the 93rd minute.
Moments later ” City were briefly reduced to eight when Alanna Kennedy suffered a cramp and Chelsea finally took advantage with Jelena Cankovic's strike.
Keating made a stunning save to deny Bright's header. Melanie Leupolz was blocked and Reiten finally got the ball over the sea of bodies over the line.
Guro Reiten's first goal of the season
IMPORTANT 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/eYI2UjdeB7
— @Chelseawomen_ (@Chelseawomen_) October 8, 2023
Sam Kerr's header hit the post, Chelsea's third such miss, although Hayes eventually managed to get away with a point.
“Does this spoil game? ? Of course it is,” she said. “But officials are easy to attack. They made their expectations of us and the players clear, and I think they applied that to both of our games.”
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