Rollercoaster performance for Khiara Keating as Man City lose to Arsenal

Manchester City were outplayed at Meadow Park as they suffered a 2-1 loss to the hands of Arsenal. Chloe Kelly cancelled out Steph Catley’s opening goal but Stina Blackstenius put the game to bed late into the second half.

Khiara Keating made two clear-cut errors in the game, a mistimed tackle in the box shortly after conceding gave the Gunners a spot-kick. But the 19-year-old put things right by parrying away Kim Little’s penalty strike.

Her second came in the 87th minute when the exposed goalkeeper rushed out of the area to pick up a loose ball. Keating mistimed the bounce and granted Blackstenius an open goal and three points.

Catley’s first-touch finish fired beyond Keating’s reach within the 14th minute in Arsenal’s first attacking chance. It was cleverly orchestrated as the Gunners lulled Esme Morgan out of position which gave Catley a chance to meet the ball on the left flank, unopposed.

But Kelly brought the Sky Blues back into the game when she stunned Arsenal fans with a firebolt strike from close range after Shaw’s cheeky layoff in the box.

The Citizens missed Alex Greenwood’s poised presence in defence but Laia Alexandri performed stoically at the back, in her absence. Alexandri stood the ball well and outsmarted the hosts while in possession, even under intense pressure from Alessia Russo.

Hemp also caused problems as City’s number 10, the ball glued to her left foot, twisting this way and that really opened up space to instigate the attack.

Keating had a game she's not likely to forget anytime soon. The ‘keeper denied Katie McCabe’s thunderous advance, kept calm against the looming Arsenal press, even with the ball at her feet, and took control of the game within seconds of giving away the penalty.

But she