Australians Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr both received unwanted setbacks while sidelined over the weekend.
The prospect of Mary Fowler having Champions League football to inspire her on the long road to recovery have been virtually extinguished after her Manchester City side were held to a 1-1 home draw by Everton in the Women’s Super League.
That she was in City’s thoughts was evident when goalscorer Kerstin Casparij marked her goal by holding up a City shirt with Fowler’s name on the back following the Australian’s ACL injury last weekend.
Fowler’s team-mate Laura Coombs published an image of Casparij holding the Matildas star’s shirt up, writing: ‘Sad we couldn’t get the win but we love you Mazzy [Fowler].’
The Australian forward re-shared the post onto her Instagram story, writing: ‘Love yous too.’
However, the injury-hit team were unable to hold on to their 13th-minute lead with Everton, who included Matilda Clare Wheeler in their midfield, equalising through Karen Holmgaard 20 minutes later. The Dane headed in a cross from her identical twin sister Sara.
That left City seven points adrift of third-placed Manchester United with three games left.
City are now fourth on 36 points and have to win all of their remaining games and have United lose all theirs to overtake them.
Mary Fowler issued a touching note to her Manchester City team-mates after they paid tribute to her during their 1-1 draw against Everton
Kerstin Casparij (pictured) paid tribute to Fowler scoring against Everton on Sunday afternoon
Manchester City’s European hopes were severely dented by draw with Everton
The top two of Chelsea and Arsenal, who spent the weekend playing this year’s Champions League semi-finals, are already out of reach.
Meanwhile, the wait for Sam Kerr to recover from the anterior cruciate injury she suffered in January 2024 has rarely seemed longer to Chelsea fans than it did in Catalonia as the English league headers were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona.
Already missing Kerr and US striker Mia Fishel the London club lost England’s Lauren James on the eve of the match, leaving them light in attack against the holders in their Uefa Women’s Champions League semi-final first-leg.
While Barcelona were able to bring the competition’s leading scorer, Claudia Pina, off the bench Chelsea had fewer attacking options.
Pina scored twice as Barca struck three times in the closing 20 minutes to secure an imposing first-leg lead.
With Ellie Carpenter’s Lyon winning 2-1 at Arsenal on Saturday a repeat of last year’s final, won by Barcelona, looks likely.
The Spanish champions could even afford a missed penalty by former world player of the year Alexia Putellas, who was denied by Hannah Hampton after nine minutes.
Polish striker Ewa Pajor broke the deadlock in the 35th minute for her 36th goal in 39 games this season. In the second period Pina doubled the lead, Sandy Baltimore halved it, then Irene Paredes and Pina made it commanding.
Fowler had ruptured her ACL injury while playing for City during their Women’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United last week
Sam Kerr’s Chelsea side were thrashed by Spanish champs Barcelona
Chelsea’s former Barca player Lucy Bronze insisted her current team could overturn the odds at home next Sunday. ‘I think we can do it,’ the England defender Bronze told TNT Sports. ‘Never say never. Nothing is impossible.’
That echoed Australian striker Caitlin Foord’s words on whether Arsenal can win in Lyon next weekend.
However, a third Barca-Lyon final in four years seems probable in Lisbon on 24 May.
