Alessia Inspires Crucial Victory In WSL Title Race As Leah Williamson Limps Off Injured
Injury-stricken Arsenal fell further behind Women’s Super League title rivals Manchester United after suffering a damaging 1-0 defeat at the Leigh Sports Village, where England captain Leah Williamson limped off after just 12 minutes.
The wounded Gunners, missing regular captain Kim Little after a season-ending hamstring injury, were forced to replace Williamson after an awkward fall early in the first period, before Alessia Russo capitalised on the visitors’ misfortune by firing the decider in first-half stoppage time.
Nikita Parris forced the entry with a surging run down the right, pulling the ball back to the penalty spot where Russo had timed her run perfectly, sweeping home with a distinguished first-time finish (45+6).
Concern for Williamson blighted the remainder of Arsenal’s sombre evening, with Jonas Eidevall’s side unable to get a real foothold in the game, and now trail their Manchester counterparts by six points with five games remaining in the race for this season’s WSL crown.
United, far from their free-flowing best, remain in pole position at the top, four clear of second-placed Chelsea having played two games more. “In the past, we haven’t backed ourselves against these teams,” match-winner Russo admitted at full-time, “it all worked out tonight,” she added.
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The sight of Williamson, operating out of position in light of Arsenal’s mounting injury woe, gesturing towards her bench in agony after an innocuous-looking challenge rather marred the evening’s entertainment – a worrying sight for England boss Sarina Wiegman just three months out from the Women’s World Cup.
In a critical game, which will have significant influence over the direction of the title race, Arsenal were somewhat subdued, clearly shaken by the loss of Williamson who was helped down the tunnel by team-mate Little.
“It’s not good that she has to come off,” manager Eidevall said of Williamson. “Playing on pitches like that, of course players are going to get injured.”
Russo had fired a warning shot within the opening six minutes after Ona Batlle scampered down wing, working the ball to Katie Zelem, who in turn found the Lionesses striker unmarked inside the box.
The ensuing strike was wayward, but Russo’s knack for snuffing out goalscoring chances was almost destined to be Arsenal’s eventual downfall.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, the England international rediscovered her composure in front of goal, collecting Parris’ well-worked cut back and powering beyond the clutches of Manuela Zinsberger. The move was devastatingly quick and equally incisive – the home side’s best of an otherwise muted night.
Arsenal, depleted of resource and with one eye on Sunday’s Champions League encounter at Wolfsburg, attempted to change the course of the tie during an improved second half, pressing with greater intensity, but failed to test goalkeeper Mary Earps with anything clear-cut.
“I felt emotional after the game because the players didn’t get what they deserved,” Eidevall added, who now has the tough task of preparing his bruised side for an all-important European trip to Germany in five days time.
