Naomi Layzell has described Metropolis’s 2-0 Champions League conquer Barcelona in October because the ‘greatest’ night time in her promising profession up to now.
However the defender admitted she has blended feelings when reflecting on the success having been saved on the sidelines since after struggling an harm through the memorable victory.
Having certified for the celebrated competitors correct following an 8-0 combination success over Paris FC – ’s aspect have been drawn into Group D with the Spanish giants, Hammarby and St Polten.
We have been then handed a tantalising opening project when welcoming the reigning European champions to the Joie Stadium.
Then, in entrance of a document crowd on the area, targets from Layzell and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw both aspect of half-time secured a well-known win with the England youth worldwide offering the help for the Jamaican’s strike.
Though the defender was compelled off in second-half harm time, she says her overriding recollections are constructive from the night.
“Some blended feelings, primarily comfortable,” Layzell stated.
“It was a tremendous recreation and the ambiance in itself and the soccer performed by each groups was at a excessive degree.
“For us to come back away with a clear sheet as a defender and profitable 2-0 towards one of the crucial profitable groups in Europe and in their very own home league – it was a extremely nice night time.
“It was an necessary recreation, all video games are, however it was most likely the most important recreation I performed in my profession up to now.
“Then, sadly, it needed to finish with myself selecting up a little bit of an harm however I’ll solely take the positives from the sport and look ahead.”
Layzell’s outing towards Barcelona represented her fourth look since her summer season swap from Bristol Metropolis and solely her third begin for the Blues.
She revealed the squad came upon who was within the XI the day earlier than the match and that she was fast to inform her household the information whereas feeling a mix of stunned, nervous and proud.
Layzell added: “We discovered the workforce out the day earlier than, simply earlier than coaching. I went into the assembly considering it might be superb to observe this recreation after which the workforce went up and I believed ‘oh, that’s my title!’.
“I used to be nervous at first and a bit shocked, however Gaz [Taylor] confirmed me he trusted me and knew what my position was going to be for the sport. I used to be simply getting ready and it was extra pleasure and anticipation.”
“Straight after the assembly I textual content my household saying ‘you’ll by no means guess what’. My brother and sister got here up for the sport, however my mother and father have been each working late in order that they weren’t capable of watch in order that they have been a bit gutted.
“It was actually constructive in any other case.”
After Metropolis began brightly towards Pere Romeu’s aspect – Layzell lit the sky blue contact paper when reacting shortly contained in the field to prod ’s knock-down into the web following a nook on 36 minutes.
Not solely did it sign her first objective in European competitors, however her maiden in senior soccer.
However as a result of crowd of our bodies and melee inside the realm – Layzell defined she didn’t initially realise she’d damaged the impasse on the Joie Stadium.
“To be sincere, when it occurred, I didn’t know the ball had gone into the web!,” she admitted.
“The day earlier than we had spoken about set performs and actually being alive and targeted on the drop downs within the field as they have been going to be necessary.
“I feel Viv [Miedema] did rather well to nod it again throughout and also you’ve simply received to be alive and assault these balls. I simply noticed it, received the connection and directed it in direction of the objective.
“At first it was confusion then when everybody was on high of me, I used to be similar to ‘no manner’. As a result of at that time we had a couple of clear-cut probabilities already and we perhaps deserved a objective.
“Then when it went in I questioned ‘did I simply rating?’. I’d by no means scored earlier than, and it was extra of a sense of elation. It was actually thrilling.”
