This past weekend saw Newcastle United Women return to St. James' Park, as part of the annual Sela Cup Weekender, to take on Italian opposition in the form of AC Milan with their iconic red and black striped kit.
Saturday was the fans' first chance to see Becky Langley's new look side in action, now playing in the hugely popular Adidas kit, since they secured promotion to the Barclays Women's Championship back in May. An early goal of the season contender from Elysia Boddy and penalty shoot out heroics from goalkeeper Hannah Hawkins saw the lasses maintain their hundred percent record at St. James' Park and lift the inaugural Women's Sela Cup trophy.
The first stoppage of the match came after only 33 seconds. From the resulting free kick, the visitors played some nice passes around the edge of the NUW penalty area but it ultimately came to nothing. First signing of the summer Shania Hayles made her first contribution of the match shortly after, winning a free kick to ease the pressure from the Milanese.
Milan would have the majority of the possession in the opening quarter of an hour, focussing attacks down their left wing and having the first shot of the match, French u23 international Bahlouli firing comfortably wide after 4 minutes and not troubling Hawkins.
The home team took the lead in the 13th minute, somewhat against the run of play, with a spectacular goal from one of last summers new signings Elysia Boddy. Following a run from the halfway line to the edge of the box, Hayles picked out Boddy just in from the left hand side line with space to run into. A neat one two between Boddy and Hayles took Boddy past the Milan full back and after cutting inside she curled a beauty of a right footed shot from the edge of the box past Milan keeper Laura Giuliani into the top corner to put NUW 1-0 up with their first shot of the match.
The lead only lasted for 7 minutes. A diagonal ball from the centre circle into the United box was knocked back across the 6 yard box and tapped home by Nikola Karczewska who scored twice for WSL side Tottenham Hotspur in the 2022/23 season. A heavy hint of offside from the original diagonal ball could be why Hawkins was seemingly in two minds wether or not to commit to cutting out the pass.
3 minutes later Milan were ahead. Charlotte Potts uncharacteristically getting caught in possession just outside the box, with the NUW defence unable to get the ball clear, two passes across the box lead to Valentina Cernoia drilling a left footed shot from just wide of the penalty spot low into the bottom corner giving Hawkins no chance.
NUW could have equalised almost immediately however a free kick from Boddy harmlessly went out of play for a goal kick.
Shortly after the half hour mark, a dangerous ball into goal scorer Karczewska in the 6 yard box was cleared by Potts for a corner before the forward had a chance to get a shot off.
The last action of the first half saw another near equaliser for NUW. A 39th minute goal line free kick from fan favourite Beth Lumsden, signed in January from eventual FAWNL Souther Premier Division Champions Portsmouth, picked out new signing Rachel Furness who's powerful downward header was cleared off the line.
Half time saw two changes, long serving forward Katie Barker replaced by newest signing Sophie Haywood and Beth Lumsden replaced by last seasons super sub Jasmine McQuade.
The majority of the second half saw both sides cancelling each other out in midfield with neither team creating many chances.
An injury to Shania Hayles, who had looked impressive in her home debut, saw the introduction of winger Kacie Elson in the 51st minute. Managers players of the season for the 2022/23 season, Elson deservedly earned a reputation last season for her performances in the big matches. She threatened down the left wing but wasn't quite able to make a breakthrough.
Milan replaced their keeper just after the hour mark, Laura Giuliani making way for Giorgia Arrigoni. Soon after, new signing Rachel Furness was replaced by last season's captain Amber-Keegan Stobbs.
A final change on the 80th minute saw Georgia Gibson, Liv Watt and Hannah Greenwood replace Elysia Boddy, Charlotte Potts and Lia Cataldo.
The equaliser finally came in the 86th minute. Haywood won a 50-50 tackle in midfield, the ball breaking to new signing from Durham Amy Andrews who despite having a quiet match up to this point took her goal well, knocking the ball past the oncoming defender Andrews clipped a beautiful shot from the edge of the box over Arrigoni and into the top corner of the Gallowgate End goal sending the match to a penalty shoot out.
Andrews hit a powerful penalty low into the bottom right corner to cancel out Dompig's opener. Haywood, with a one step run up, then hit her penalty straight down the middle to put NUW 2-1 up after Hawkins produced a super save to deny Mascarello. Georgia "Gallowgate" Gibson and new signing Deanna Cooper respectively made it 3-2 and 4-3 in front of the famous stand before AC Milan captain Ijeh rattled the crossbar to end the shoot out.
NUW 2 - 2 AC Milan Women (4-3 after penalties)
Newcastle United Women Hannah Hawkins, Lia Cataldo (Olivia Watt 80), Charlotte Potts (Hannah Greenwood 80), Deanna Cooper, Demi Stokes, Beth Lumsden (Jasmine McQuade 45), Rachel Furness (Amber-Keegan Stobbs 67), Elysia Boddy (Georgia Gibson 80), Katie Barker (Sophie Haywood 45), Amy Andrews, Shania Hayles (Kacie Elson 51).
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