Arsenal close gap on leaders Manchester City with Sunderland rout
Sunday 26 June 2016 16:06, UK
A first-half double from Natalia Pablos Sanchon helped Arsenal to their third FA Women’s Super League 1 win of the season.
Sunderland skipper Stephanie Bannon endured a torrid afternoon, scoring two own goals in the opening 19 minutes before Natalia's brace.
Substitute Dominique Janssen scored the fifth for Arsenal, who beat Sunderland 7-0 in the SSE Women's FA Cup semi-final in April, before Beth Mead hit a late consolation.
After just two minutes, Bannon tried to glance an innocuous-looking cross back to keeper Rachel Laws, but turned the ball into her own net.
And then, with Natalia lurking and poised to turn in Asisat Oshoala's teasing ball across the face of goal Bannon had no choice but to try and intercept, but could only put it beyond Laws for the second time.
Sanchon tapped home after Vicky Losada had nutmegged Victoria Williams on the edge of the box on the half-hour. And she netted her second on 39 minutes, when Losada deftly scooped the ball over the defence, leaving Sanchon to pick her spot in the bottom corner.
The home side created several chances after the break and Janssen finally added a well-deserved fifth on 79 minutes, when her 25-yard strike was deflected past Laws, before Mead struck from a tight angle at the death.
The result coupled with the performance left two-goal heroine Sanchon in no doubt that that the Gunners - who have now moved up to fourth in the table - can still mount a title challenge this season.
"We didn't start very well in the league. We missed a few points and that's not very good for our confidence," she said.
"Now, after the break, I think the new players, they are settling in the team now and they are giving really good things to the team.
"I think we are a better team now and we can play like that, so we're fighting for the league until the end. It's great to be back after the break with three points. We have to be happy with our performance, especially in the first half. We are happy with a win.
"I'm so happy with two goals. I tried to score a hat-trick, but I'm more happy with a win and happy for the team."
