Match reportLiverpool beaten by late goals in WSL thriller at Manchester City
A first-half turnaround saw the Reds respond to Lauren Hemp’s opener on Friday night, with Alice Bergstrom and then Vivien Endemann on target.
Khadija Shaw brought City level on the stroke of half-time and the second 45 minutes were packed with chances for both teams.
An unfortunate Grace Fisk own goal on 90 put the hosts in front and they sealed three points through Hemp’s second.
On a rainswept evening at Joie Stadium, there was an immediate delay to play as Iman Beney required treatment after a knock to the head.
When the game resumed in earnest, City had a big chance to take the lead with still just five minutes on the clock.
Hemp stole possession from a hesitant Jenna Clark in the Liverpool half and ran through to drive in a shot that Khiara Keating tipped over.
City’s No.11 was not to be denied for long, though, and opened the scoring on 13 minutes.
A slick passing move allowed Carlotta Wamser to find space on the left flank and cut the ball back to Hemp at the edge of the box – and she picked out the bottom right corner.
Liverpool’s response could not have been more impressive.
They were level quickly, a long kick forward causing a mix-up in the home defence amid which a composed Endemann pass set up Bergstrom to tuck in an equaliser.
It was practically a reversal of those roles just prior to the half-hour mark to make it 2-1.
Bergstrom’s cross from the right was attacked by Cornelia Kapocs and when the ball fell loose inside the area, Endemann clattered it through the gloves of Ayaka Yamashita.
The momentum of an enthralling half swung back to City as the interval neared.
Shaw was foiled by the right post having reached a clip forward, rounded Keating – vulnerable to conceding a penalty kick – and aimed from a narrow angle.
However, the home team did level two minutes into first-half added time.
A quick exchange of passes to the left-hand side saw Hemp thrash in a shot that Keating saved but could not hold, and Shaw reacted fastest to nudge in the rebound.
The ebb and flow continued beyond the break and Endemann went close with a left-footed strike that shook the side-netting.
Liverpool’s No.9 just got too much height on her next attempt having powerfully and incisively dribbled forward off the left.
Assured defending by Clark ensured Shaw was unable to threaten as the latter took on the former in a one-v-one dribble to the Reds box.
Keating produced a wonderful and crucial reaction to glove away Shaw’s near-post finish from Hemp’s inviting low delivery.
The Reds ’keeper next had to get hands on a Yui Hasegawa cross from deep that drifted to a flight path that was heading underneath the crossbar.
Another peach centre from Bergstrom picked out Beata Olsson back at the other end, yet the Swede could only get a glancing touch on it.
Natalia Ramos slashed the ball over the target from a decent position as time ticked away, before Clark again bested Shaw with a saving challenge.
Liverpool captain Fisk emulated her centre-back partner with a last-ditch tackle on Shaw as Hemp once more tried to serve her teammate.
But a cruel conclusion denied the Reds anything from their night’s efforts.
In the last minute of normal time, Fisk’s attempted clearance on the stretch yards from goal jarred with Keating coming off her line and the ball hit her own net.
And City enhanced the advantage to 4-2 in added time as Hemp capitalised on Liverpool committing numbers forward to strike on the break.
Team
Liverpool: Keating, Kerr (Agrez, 90+3), Clark, Fisk, Bernabe, Nagano, Ramos (Höbinger, 90+3), Bergstrom, Kapocs, Endemann (Roman H., 90+3), Olsson (Csillag, 77).
Unused subs: Kirby, Enderby, Woodham, Breen, Trueman.
Next up
Liverpool’s attentions will now turn to the start of their Subway Players Cup campaign, at home to Sunderland on Wednesday (September 23).
Kick-off at St Helens Stadium will be 7pm BST and tickets can be bought here.
