Manchester Metropolis stretched our 100% begin on this time period’s Champions League to a few matches with a battling 2-0 win over Hammarby on the Joie Stadium.
After euphoric wins over Barcelona and St Polten in our first two assignments, ’s maiden European strike put us on the trail to victory over the Swedish outfit who had been backed by vocal and passionate assist in Manchester.
‘s late header then helped safe the success and keep our good report on the continent in 2024/25 to this point.
It means we stay on the prime of Group D and are unbeaten in 12 straight matches in all competitions heading into our seismic journey to Chelsea within the Barclays Ladies’s Tremendous League this weekend.
WHAT HAPPENED
The Joie Stadium was a cauldron of noise forward of the match thanks, in-part, to the travelling Hammarby contingent who had been outfitted with flags and banners whereas being accompanied by a tireless drummer all through the encounter.
Nevertheless it was the hosts who began strongly and pinned the Swedish facet into their third with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and creating possibilities, however each had been unable to bother Anna Tamminen within the Hammarby web.
Martin Sjogren’s facet had misplaced 9-0 to Barcelona of their final European outing, however reaffirmed his perception that the guests can be powerful opponents in his pre-match press convention which rang true after the opening exchanges.
With possibilities at a premium, each Bunny and Fowler drew fouls from our opponents as Hammarby defended heroically and regarded to power turnovers by means of ex-Blue Julie Blakstad on the left and Ellen Wangerheim on the suitable.
As a result of Swede’s battling blueprint, it took till the twenty second minute for Metropolis to create our first clear-cut likelihood of the night.
After Fowler’s industrious work on the suitable created house for the ball to be performed to , the latter’s cross discovered on the again publish – however the ahead couldn’t preserve her half-volley down because it flew over the bar.
Our Australian ahead then stung the palms of Tamminen shortly after as we started increase the tempo and Fowler then turned orchestrator when her blocked cross despatched the ball throughout the six-yard field the place Bunny bravely met it first however it trickled simply huge earlier than Hammarby’s keeper crashed into the Jamaican.
The stoppage in play for Shaw’s therapy barely took the sting out of our attacking impetus which the guests virtually capitalised on when Blakstad’s effort was blocked into the toes of Asata Miyagawa who curled simply over the bar from the sting of the field.
That represented the primary half’s final likelihood and Metropolis re-emerged from the break enjoying at a sooner tempo which resulted in Fujino smashing the ball off the again publish after nice play from to slip the ball to who crossed in the direction of the Japan worldwide.
However we wouldn’t be denied for much longer, and we deservedly broke the impasse when confirmed nice toes inside the world to tee up Fowler on the left whose drilled cross was well swept house by from shut vary.
It represented her first-ever within the Champions League and second for the Membership since her January change from Aston Villa and he or she started to dictate the play instantly after – producing a candy nutmeg in the course of the sphere earlier than making quite a few lung-busting restoration tackles.
Following the opener, Metropolis completely bossed possession as Hammarby dropped deep into their defensive shell and we virtually carved open the guests to perfection when Fowler despatched a beautiful cross by means of the strains to Bunny who rounded the keeper and lifted house – however the aim was chalked off after the striker had simply strayed into an offside place.
A warming second on a cold night time on the Joie Stadium got here with simply over 20 minutes remaining when Blakstad obtained applause from each units of supporters when being substituted – clearly and deservedly considered fondly after her time with Metropolis.
And her present employers weren’t out of the competition and had been displaying they packed high quality aplenty when retaining the ball in our remaining third and forcing a flurry of corners which resulted in Thea Sorbo unleashing a viciously dipping volley in the direction of aim which excellently tipped onto the bar.
That sprung the vocal visiting supporters into life they usually raised the amount from their part within the stadium.
And Fujino squandered an incredible likelihood to silence their backing virtually instantly when the ball fell to her field, however she lifted over from shut vary with the aim at her mercy.
She then made amends with lower than 10 minutes remaining when the Japan worldwide met Ouahabi’s pinpoint cross from the left to move house from shut vary to seal the factors and her second group stage aim in three outings.
epitomised Metropolis’s total efficiency towards Hammarby with a concoction of industrious urgent, high quality on the ball and delivering at key moments.
She always prompted issues for each guests’ full-backs with darting runs and supplied the stylish help for Blindkilde Brown’s opener.
The Australia worldwide is definitely having fun with life on this season’s Champions League after netting our winner within the 3-2 win over St Polten final day trip in Europe.
made three modifications from the group who began our 4-0 victory over Spurs final day trip with , and coming in on the Joie Stadium.
The Japan worldwide was between the sticks and guarded by a again 4 of , , and .
was on the base of midfield and joined within the engine room by Blindkilde Brown and .
And Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw led the road between wingers and Fowler.
Metropolis XI: Yamashita, Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood (C) (Prior 90’+1′), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Park (Coombs 90’+1′), Blindkilde Brown (Roord 81′), Fujino (Kelly 81′), Shaw (Murphy 85′), Fowler.
Substitutes: Keating, Startup, Thomas, O’Carroll.
Hammarby XI: Tamminen, Lennartsson, Carlsson, Nystrom, Andersson (Holmberg 56′), Joramo, Miyagawa (Sorbo 56′), Wangerheim, Hasund (Westin 69′), Blakstad (Josendal 69′), Tandberg (Vallotto 86′).
Substitutes: Amano, Andersson, Edrud, Gibson.
The victory on the Joie Stadium maintains our 100% begin within the Champions League to this point this time period and means now we have 9 factors after three video games and sit at Group D’s summit.
WHAT’S NEXT
Subsequent up for the Blues is a visit to Chelsea for the primary heavyweight bout between the perimeters within the WSL this time period.
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for 17:30 (UK) on Saturday 16 November and, as ever, there will likely be complete protection from the capital on mancity.com and our official app.