City's season is threatening to end in a whimper as they lost their Australian forward to injury in an underwhelming defeat to their local rivals
Manchester City's hopes of winning silverware this season were ended after being outclassed by rivals Manchester United in a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final loss on Sunday.
City came into the contest without the injured Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema, Alex Greenwood, Rebecca Knaak, and Aoba Fujino, and their deplted team struggled to contain the lively visitors.
United took the lead in the sixth minute when Ella Toone's defence-splitting pass found Celin Bizet and she curled a quality effort past goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Things then went from bad to worse for City as Grace Clinton headed in Gabby George's corner in the 22nd minute, before star forward Mary Fowler was forced off with a knee injury soon after.
The hosts showed signs of life when Kerolin's audacious effort with her back to goal forced keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to tip the ball over the bar, but it could have been 3-0 when Bizet ran through on goal following a flowing counter-attack, only for Keating to come to the rescue.
City started the second half with more vim and vigour and forced a world-class double save from Tullis-Joyce, as she first pushed Yui Hasegawa's 20-yard free-kick onto the bar and then showed lightning reflexes to keep out Lily Murphy's close-range rebound. At the other end, substitute Naomi Layzell made a vital block to deny United tapping in a third, and then Keating kept out a Bizet piledriver on the rebound.
In the end, holders United eased into their third-straight FA Cup final to set up a clash with Chelsea. Meanwhile, City will have to reflect on how their bitter rivals are now leaving them in their wake.
GOAL rates City's players from Joie Stadium…
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Khiara Keating (7/10):
Was arguably City's best player, which highlighted United's dominance, with a string of fine stops.
Kerstin Casparij (5/10):
The right-back was part of a defence that was repeatedly on the back foot and didn't look particularly comfortable.
Gracie Prior (5/10):
Allowed Clinton to get goalside for United's second when she should have been bigger and stronger to keep out the England international.
Laia Aleixandri (6/10):
Made some decent blocks and clearances at the back when faced with a potent United attack.
Leila Ouahabi (3/10):
Repeatedly failed to track the runs of Bizet and was at fault for United's opener. Something of a liability on the day.
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Yui Hasegawa (7/10):
What little spark City created came from her, including a free-kick that hit the bar and quick feet around the box.
Jess Park (5/10):
The 21-year-old was second-best against Toone, who ran the midfield.
Laura Coombs (5/10):
The game seemed to pass the veteran by as she struggled to get a foothold in the game.
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Kerolin (7/10):
Nearly scored an outrageous goal and had some good driving runs, but her team-mates weren't in the right areas to finish those openings.
Mary Fowler (N/A):
Didn't get much joy early on and then appeared to twist her knee, something that forced her off inside the opening 25 minutes.
Lily Murphy (6/10):
Worked hard and got herself into good positions, but never got the better of Le Tissier.
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Naomi Layzell (6/10):
Got stuck in but didn't really lay a glove on United's defensive rearguard.
Laura Wienroither (5/10):
Didn't make much of an impact.
Nick Cushing (6/10):
His team were completely outclassed in the first half, but there was only so much they could do when a hatful of key players were missing. His team put in a more spirited display in the second half, but it wasn't enough.
