.png)
London City Lionesses were denied an important bonus in the Continental Tyres League Cup, falling 7-6 in a penalty shootout versus Watford on Wednesday [11 October].
The Pride, who experimented with a new system at Princes Park, raced out of the traps and made a dominant start to the match, winning a pair of corners in the opening minutes.
However, it was visitors who struck first, with Annie Rossiter seizing possession on the edge of the penalty area and driving a low shot beyond the reach of Grace Moloney.
If falling beyond after 13 minutes bothered the home side, they didn’t show it on the pitch.
London City immediately bounced back to top form and equalised nine minutes later courtesy of a long-range drive from captain Lois Joel
The Pride returned to the field after the break with the bit between their teeth, placing Damon Lathrope’s side under sustained spells of pressure.
Just five minutes after the restart, the pressure tolled, with Grace Neville firing London City ahead with a scorcher from the top of the box.
Morace made use of her bench in the closing stages, with Tinaya Alexander, Paige Satchell, and debutant Muna Eze replacing Danielle Carter, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, and Connie Scofield.
But there was a late twist in the tale, with an injury to Eze leaving the Pride shorthanded in the final minutes.
Coral Haines equalised with three minutes remaining, sending the tie to a shootout, which the away side clinched 7-6 in a sudden-death showdown.
The Pride return to action in the Barclays Women’s Championship on Sunday [15 October], visiting Crystal Palace in a crunch local derby.
PENALTIES:
London City – Izzy Groves (G), Lucy Fitzgerald (G), Lois Joel (G), Emma Mukandi (G), Grace Neville (M), Tinaya Alexander (G), Paige Culver (G), Paige Satchell (M)
Watford – Gemma Davison (G), Lucia Leon (M), Annie Rossiter (G), Coral Haines (G), Bianca Baptiste (G), Anne Meiwald (G), Corinne Henson (G), Sophie McLean (G)