It would take something magical to win it.
The ladies of Arsenal and Birmingham City were drawing 1-1 and the clock was just after ticking past ninety. Both sets of players looked like they had settled for the draw with extra-time on the cards.
Katie McCabe hadn’t settled for anything though. The Kilnamanagh flyer was still bombing up and down the left wing for the Gunners and she was demanding the ball at every possible opportunity.
Finally, but even deeper into injury time the ball came her way. Realistically, there was nothing on, she was on the far left side of the pitch but was too far away from the goals to be considered a danger by Birmingham or a threat for Arsenal.
So it seemed.
But before she’d even received the ball, McCabe was already scanning the green grass ahead of her, she was already plotting, she was already probing.
And then, striker Vivianne Miedema made the run. A hopeful, bending run but the Republic of Ireland captain had already spotted her.
And then right on cue, she side-footed the most glorious, perfectly weighted through ball right into the path of her teammate to leave her one-on-one with the Birmingham goalie.
⏱ It’s the 90th minute…
😬 It’s Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham…
🏆 A place in the semi-finals at stake…Step forward, @VivianneMiedema 🔥 #ContiCup pic.twitter.com/EQ0y7OYvWn
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 10, 2019
Miedma finished well after, rounding an admittedly overly eager goalie but it was all about the pass from McCabe, who was made the Republic of Ireland women’s captain at the age of just 21.
That was the goal that brought Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the women’s League Cup.
