Nick Cushing believes Vivianne Miedema showcased her ‘world class’ abilities throughout Metropolis’s 2-0 UEFA Ladies’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Chelsea.
The Netherlands worldwide began among the many substitutes on the Joie Stadium, however got here from the bench on the interval to attain twice and hand the Blues an early benefit heading into subsequent week’s deciding tie at Stamford Bridge.
Miedema’s first noticed her showcase her poacher’s intuition to tuck into an empty web after the ball had struck the cross bar earlier than she coolly slotted dwelling within the closing levels to double our lead.
Though Cushing revealed the Barclays Ladies’s Tremendous League’s all-time scorer was disenchanted to not begin the conflict with the Londoners, he expressed his enjoyment of seeing her stamp her authority on proceedings after her introduction.
“I’m positive you’ll be able to think about what she stated [after starting among the substitutes],” he declared,
“I anticipated it and for each world class participant once they don’t play, however it’s not that bit I feel is sort of the defining issue between a prime participant.
“It’s what occurs if you go on and I’ve seen far too many instances a participant hasn’t turned the frustration right into a world class efficiency.
“Tonight, we noticed the extent of Viv, in or out, I stated she’d go into the staff at half-time, however she went in to be the distinction and to do this exhibits her degree.
“I used to be assured if she bought possibilities, she’d rating, we simply need to create these moments for her. Tonight, we noticed many and he or she thinks she ought to’ve had a hat-trick!”
Amongst a swathe of standout shows on the Joie Stadium, Academy starlet Gracie Prior continued her unbelievable maiden skilled season with a show past her youthful years.
The centre-back was instrumental in our watertight defence and, alongside Laia Aleixandri, saved the mercurial Mayra Ramirez off the scoresheet as we maintained a clear sheet.
And Cushing detailed the impression Prior has left on him after full-time.
He added: “[I’ve been] extremely impressed [by Prior].
“These moments can swing each methods, you need to give younger gamers the chance however not power them an excessive amount of.
“On the identical time I would not take her out, she’s proving she will play in these large video games.
“That brings plenty of duty if you take a look at how we play however she’s embraced that, she has a robust mentality, discovered and performed plenty of work and also you noticed these enhancements.
“She’s towards a WC striker and bodily and mentally competing with the stress of going towards Ramirez. She sustained her degree tonight so I used to be actually happy.”