City’s title hopes looked to be in a perilous position at half-time of our crucial top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea, with the Blues trailing 2-0 courtesy of goals from Millie Bright and Ji So-Yun.
However, Cushing’s reigning title holders are made of sterner stuff and an inspired second half performance salvaged a pivotal point at the Academy Stadium, as a Georgia Stanway struck an absolute stunner late on after Nikita Parris had halved the deficit shortly after the break.
With Emma Hayes’ side having leapfrogged City to top spot in midweek, as Cushing’s Blues slipped to a 2-0 loss at Birmingham, it was crucial the home side avoided defeat and portraying real grit, fighting spirit and determination, they managed to do so.
What happened…
Buoyed by Wednesday night’s turn of events, Chelsea started brightly – quite literally – and broke the deadlock with a goal inside six minutes.
Abbie McManus had already prevented an opener with a fine block to deny Fran Kirby, before the visitors capitalised. The hosts failed to clear a corner and the ball fell kindly for Bright to thump past Ellie Roebuck.
With the lead, the away side looked more comfortable in possession and smelling blood with City rattled, went in search of a second.
Esme Morgan did well to thwart Kirby before the away side doubled their advantage on 24 minutes when Crystal Dunn cut back for So-Yun to drill into the far corner, handing Cushing’s side a mountain to climb.
City rallied but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Chelsea shot-stopper Hedvig Lindahl had just one save to make in the opening 45, denying Parris at the near post, while Jill Scott saw an effort deflect wide.
The visitors continued to dominate and sought to extend their lead further.
Roebuck did well to prevent Ramona Bachmann from adding a third, while McManus put herself on the line once again to block So-Yun’s attempt.
Kirby and Drew Spence also fired wide in the last major action of the half, with City left with a huge task ahead at the break.
Chelsea’s siege continued after the restart as Bachmann tested Roebuck again before the hosts were handed a lifeline on 49 minutes.
Demi Stokes was the architect, delivering a wonderful cross to the backpost for Parris, who powered a header into the back of the net to halve the deficit.
Despite the boost, City still struggled to create and it was Chelsea who responded, eager to reclaim their two-goal advantage.
Bachmann proved a real threat, firing across goal before forcing Roebuck into yet another stop, while Bright headed a corner over the bar.
At the other end, Stanway’s ambitious long-range attempt was comfortably saved before Parris spurned a glorious chance to level, somehow side-footing wide with the goal at her mercy. As Cushing admitted after the game, it seemed to would be a significant miss.
However, it would be Chelsea who would be punished for their wastefulness. Roebuck kept her side in the game, denying Erin Cuthbert before Dunn poked the rebound wide, and City found an equaliser with four minutes of normal time remaining.
In a bid to instil some vigour, Cushing had introduced Claire Emslie, Jane Ross and Stanway - and the substitutions proved inspired as the latter added further justification to her ‘super sub’ label, smashing home a sensational long-range leveller into the top corner from Scott’s lay-off to spark joyous scenes.
To have said the goal had been coming would be an untruth but City did not care and even had the audacity to hunt for a winner.
Stanway, who netted from the bench in the FA Cup triumph at Birmingham, almost found one to turn the game on its head - only to be denied her second by Lindahl.
In the end, such missed chances could not be rued - a draw would prove perfectly satisfactory, under the circumstances, and a draw it would finish.
Given the fact the Super League title is often won by small margins, Stanway’s strike could well prove to be a significant moment in the title race, simultaneously handing City a psychological boost and Chelsea the feeling of a golden chance wasted.
How we lined up…
Cushing made two changes to the side that fell to a first defeat of the season at Birmingham, as Nadia Nadim replaced Stanway, while Julia Spetsmark earned her first start in place of Emslie.
Roebuck took her place in goal, shielded by a backline of Stokes, Jen Beattie, Morgan and McManus. made her 100th appearance for the Club at Solihull.
Spetsmark and Parris occupied the wings with Nadim leading the line upfront.
What it means…
City remain one point behind Chelsea at the top of the table with 26 points from 11 games.
What’s next…
Domestic action breaks for international duty ahead of the upcoming SheBelieves Cup and training camps.
City are next in action on Wednesday 14 March in the Continental Tyres Cup final against Arsenal at Adams Park, Wycombe (7pm). The Club are delighted to offer fans free return coach travel to the game.
The Blues then travel to Sunderland in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday 18 March (2pm) before returning to the Academy Stadium, hosting Linkopings in the Champions League Round of 16 home leg on Wednesday 21 March (7pm).
The Blues’ next league clash then follows with a trip to Bristol City on Sunday 25 March (12:30pm).
Tickets for all City home games are available online via tickets.mancity.com or at the Etihad Stadium Ticket Office.
