Sunderland 1-1 Crystal Palace
by Ben Gilby (17/9/23)
Above: Sunderland (red and white stripes) look for a way through this afternoon against Crystal Palace. Photo: Sunderland AFC Women.
An equaliser in the 90th minute from Brianna Westrup gave Sunderland a share of the spoils in a hard-fought battle with fellow unbeaten Championship side Crystal Palace.
This was a hugely important early season game with both sides unbeaten having won two and drawn one of their opening three matches. Palace came into the game hot on the heels of a statement-making 9-1 win over Durham last Sunday with Sunderland gaining an extremely impressive win at Southampton.
The hosts started on the front foot and were profiting along the right flank. With five minutes played, a free-kick on this side parallel with the visitors’ penalty area saw Katie Kitching play a ball in high and Liz Ejupi was denied twice in quick succession by the South Londoners’ goalkeeper Natalia Negri.
However, Palace showed their quality in attack, and from their first meaningful entry into the Sunderland box, Annabel Blanchard combined with Elise Hughes who saw an effort blocked. The ball came back to Blanchard who crossed in high from the right to the back post and Hughes nodded home.
The visitors had now settled and looked to generate their rapid passing game at every opportunity. Blanchard was probing with her trademark skill. From one such sortie, she found Paige Bailey-Gayle who advanced and hit a shot that was deflected out for a corner.
Aimee Everett was looking comfortable in possession for Palace and looking to direct the play. Bailey-Gayle was continuing to link up with Blanchard in tormenting the home defence across the right-hand side. At this stage, the South Londoners were dominant in possession and looking to spread it at every opportunity.
Yet, as the half entered its final 15 minutes, Sunderland found their second wind. Another Kitching free-kick, this time on the left caused problems and needed to be dealt with by Hughes at the cost of a corner for the Wearsiders.
Five minutes before the break, there was a big chance for the home side following another pacey break along the right with the ball delivered towards Jenna Dear who was denied by a superb tackle by Everett.
Palace created one last opportunity as the half ticked towards stoppage time as Blanchard played a high ball in for Molly-Mae Sharpe who turned her defender with no little skill and hit a shot into the side netting from an acute angle.
Sunderland went in at the break behind but in the ascendency. Whilst Crystal Palace were playing the more impressive football and looking more threatening, the Wearsiders were most definitely within striking distance of a comeback.
Indeed, the hosts forced the pressure from the re-start with Mary McAteer and Jenna Dear both seeing efforts go over.
However, Palace were still creating opportunities. Sub Araya Dennis was brought down 25 yards out, and Blanchard’s free-kick came in but Shanade Hopcroft’s shot went over the topbar. Felicity Gibbons then broke through and her cross from the left came back off the bar. Dennis then hit a low shot that Claudia Moan saved before the Sunderland goalkeeper denied Blanchard in a one-on-one showdown.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Sunderland stepped up the pace. Katie Watson was brought down by Gibbons parallel to the 18-yard line. The resulting free-kick came in high but was headed away before Negri was called on to hold the follow-up.
The home side continued to press, and with two minutes of normal time remaining, a long ball through was headed wide by Ellen Jones. With the game becoming increasingly physical as the sides entered what would be 10 minutes of stoppage time, the Wearsiders struck.
Natasha Fenton’s free-kick came in from the right high and was back headed into the net amidst raucous scenes by Westrup.
There was still time for Sunderland to create one final golden opportunity to take all the points as another free-kick was played in by Kitching. Negri saved, and an attempted follow-up from the hosts went wide of the left-hand post.
This was a hugely enjoyable battle of two able sides. With the Championship seemingly more open than ever before this season, it’s certainly not beyond either side to mount a sustained promotion push once the campaign resumes in a fortnight’s time after the international break.
Teams: SUNDERLAND: Moan, Brown, Goddard, Westrup, Griffiths, Kitching, Fenton, Dear, McAteer, Ede, Ejupi. Substitutes: Borthwick, Rouse, Scarr, Watson, Jones, Cassap, McCatty, McInnes, Corbyn.
Scorer: Westrup 90′.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Negri, Reilly, Everett, Nolan, Gibbons, Filbey, Hopcroft, Blanchard, Bailey-Gayle, Hughes, Sharpe. Substitutes: Wright, Johnson, Cataldo, Arthur, Doran, Potter, Dennis, Guyett.
Scorer: Hughes 8′.
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