London City Lionesses promoted to WSL after epic 2-2 draw with Birmingham
May 4 ((Reuters)) - London City Lionesses held on for a thrilling 2-2 draw away to Birmingham City that saw them top the FA Women's Championship and win promotion to the Women's Super League, despite throwing away a two-goal lead late in the final game of the season.
With only the winners promoted, the Lionesses finished the season with 43 points, two ahead of Birmingham, and they will replace already-relegated Crystal Palace in the WSL next term.
Relegated in 2022 after a 20-year stint in the top flight, second-placed Birmingham City came into the game knowing they needed to win to secure promotion, and they had a couple of decent chances in a thrilling but scoreless first half.
Izzy Goodwin made them rue those missed opportunities in the 47th minute, cutting in from the left and riding a couple of tackles before firing a rocket into the top-left corner to give her side the lead with her 16th goal of the season.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah made Birmingham's task all the harder by netting a second with a perfectly-placed header into the bottom-left corner, but the home crowd was ignited when Emily von Egmond pulled a goal back with a close-range header in the 64th minute.
Roared on by the crowd of 8,749 spectators, Cho So-Hyun then equalised with a brilliant volley in the 86th minute to set up a nail-biting finish that featured 10 minutes of added time.
Playing in the last game of her professional career, Ireland international Louise Quinn came off the bench and she had a late shout for a penalty turned down as Birmingham rained balls into the box, but London City managed to hold on to become the first fully independent women's club to play in the top division.
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