Manchester Metropolis booked our spot within the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League quarter-finals for the primary time since 2021 with a gutsy 2-1 win at Hammarby.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s brace proved the distinction in a hostile Stockholm environment, with the Jamaican turning into our file goalscorer in Europe within the course of as Metropolis bought the win we wanted to progress with two video games to spare.
We took the lead on the half-hour by means of the Jamaican’s deflected strike, however the hosts responded early within the second 45 by means of Ellen Wangerheim.
However the Blues responded defiantly when Shaw rifled a vicious drive into the roof of the web simply 4 minutes later to keep up our 100% file in Group D heading into the worldwide break.
Over 20,000 followers had been packed into the Tele2 area and whereas the stadium’s roof saved out the weather, it compacted the environment right into a cauldron of noise.
Metropolis took some time to essentially familiarize yourself with the hostile atmosphere, with Cathinka Tandberg’s speculative effort seeing scramble throughout her line.
The hosts went shut once more earlier than the 20-minute mark when Wangerheim flicked an effort simply large of the far put up after a harmful ball into the Blues’ space.
However ’s facet slowly started to really feel ourselves into the sport after that probability, putting the skin of the put up from a nook quickly after because the ball squirmed by means of a crowded space.
A couple of minutes later and the play fell invitingly to , staying up after one other set piece, however the full-back couldn’t make a clear contact after Hammarby had did not clear.
Metropolis had weathered the storm, and the breakthrough would come on the half hour from Shaw.
Starved of any actual sight of purpose to this point, the Jamaican latched onto ’s go on the counter assault and, after getting the ball again onto her favoured proper foot, noticed her long-range effort deflect off a defender and into the highest nook.
Shaw’s animated celebration in entrance of the house followers noticed her roundly booed for the rest of the tie, with replays additionally exhibiting an object seemingly being thrown her manner from the stands.
Nevertheless it was former Metropolis winger Julie Blakstad who generated the most important noise from the Hammarby crowd earlier than the break when she flashed an effort an inch or so large of the mark regardless of the attentions of each and Gracie Prior.
And the hosts drew themselves stage inside three minutes of the restart when Wangerheim stole in on the again put up to faucet residence from a left-wing cross, regardless of seemingly being fouled within the build-up.
Metropolis definitely hadn’t had all of it our personal manner within the Swedish capital, however as soon as once more took the lead simply 4 minutes later in emphatic – and record-breaking – style by means of Shaw.
Selecting up play from on the sting of the Hammarby field, the Jamaican smashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the hosts’ internet, akin to her earlier this season.
Having already drawn stage with Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie’s file of six Champions League objectives, Shaw’s newest effort noticed her surpass her former Metropolis team-mates and attain one more spectacular milestone.
It had been an enthralling begin to the second half, with Metropolis grateful to Keating for an unbelievable double save within the subsequent passage of play to maintain our noses in entrance.
After that early pleasure, clearcut possibilities had been few and much between till the ultimate ten minutes, when fired over from a good angle after rounding Anna Tamminen.
On the different finish, Keating was as soon as once more the Blues’ hero, tipping Josendal’s goalbound effort away from hazard quickly after.
And because the recreation ticked into stoppage time, the Metropolis goalkeeper as soon as once more was alert to the hazard to protect the win, saving neatly as soon as once more from Josendal when the substitute tried her luck from a good angle.
It wasn’t fairly, however Taylor’s facet dug deep and bought the win we wanted.
What it means
Metropolis have assured our spot within the Champions League quarter-finals with victory over Hammarby.
We nonetheless sit high of Group D with 4 wins from 4, and will assure first place ought to we beat St Polten and Barcelona fail to win in opposition to the Swedes in Matchweek 5.
made three modifications from the facet who had been edged out by Chelsea in our most up-to-date match, with , Gracie Prior and all introduced in.
Keating’s purpose was shielded by a again 4 of Prior, , and .
sat in entrance with and Blindkilde Brown finishing our midfield three.
and began on the flanks with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw main the road for Metropolis in Stockholm.
Hammarby XI: Tamminen, Nystrom, Miyagawa (Sorbo 85′), Joramo, Vallotto (Hasund 85′), Wangerheim, Lennartsson (Josendal 74′), Karlsson (C), Tandberg (Westin 74′), Andersson (Holmberg 64′), Blakstad.
Subs: Okvist, Gibson, Andersson, Amano, Edrud.
Metropolis XI: Keating, Prior (Kelly 64′), Kennedy, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Fujino, Fowler, Shaw.
Subs: Yamashita, Startup, Thomas, Murphy, O’Carroll.
Up subsequent
With the most recent worldwide break on the horizon, Metropolis now have a two-week watch for our subsequent fixture.
The Blues welcome Leicester to the Joie Stadium on Sunday 8 December, with kick-off set for 13:00 (UK).
Our subsequent Champions League match comes 4 days later, after we host St Polten on Thursday 12 December at 20:00.
As at all times, we’ll have complete protection of each clashes on our official app.