Teenage ahead Lily Murphy marked her first Metropolis begin with a purpose because the Blues took one other step in direction of high spot in UEFA Champions League Group D with a 2-0 win over St Polten.
The 18-year-old, who signed her first skilled contract final week, opened her Metropolis account when she tapped dwelling ’s cross at hand us an early second half lead.
then made it two simply after the hour along with her first purpose in Blue when she met one other Fujino ball in from the proper.
There was a worrying sight on the half-hour mark as captain left the sphere on a stretcher, however Metropolis responded nicely to arrange a grandstand end to Group D away to second-placed Barcelona subsequent week.
Metropolis have been already assured of a spot within the quarter-finals forward of kick-off, however have been on high from the get-go seeking sustaining our 100% file on a cold Joie Stadium night.
Murphy was first to check Carina Schluter with an effort from a decent angle contained in the opening 5 minutes, however the Blues have been struggling to translate that possessional dominance into real clearcut possibilities.
On the different finish, St Polten’s Sophie Hillebrand went closest for the guests, firing a speculative effort from distance over the Metropolis bar following a nook.
Quickly after that there was a regarding sight for the Blues as went down after a conflict of knees with Melanie Brunnthaler.
The captain was introduced off on a stretcher simply after the half hour in some discomfort, changed by within the coronary heart of the defence.
That setback took the sting out of the tie as half-time approached, although would certainly have grabbed the opener for Metropolis had she made clear contact on a deep free-kick into the St Polten field.
However ’s facet regarded sharp after the break, and it wouldn’t take lengthy for the opener to comply with from 18-year-old Murphy.
Playing on a low ball into the St Polten space by Fujino, the attacker tapped dwelling into an empty web earlier than being mobbed by her team-mates.
The teen had been one of many Blues’ most full of life gamers and you could possibly see the arrogance oozing from her after that particular second.
A teasing ball from {the teenager} into the far put up in direction of Casparij on the hour nearly yielded a second purpose, however the full-back’s header bounced large.
Murphy’s tempo was inflicting issues down the left, and he or she nearly doubled the lead when curling an effort simply off beam from ’s ball in behind.
However quantity two would comply with from the alternative flank, with Casparij opening her Metropolis account simply after the hour.
Fujino was as soon as once more the architect, along with her harmful go throughout the face of the St Polten purpose met by the defender who duly did the honours.
In an nearly carbon copy of her probability round ten minutes prior, Murphy as soon as once more went extremely shut to a different purpose, curling an effort agonisingly large from the left on 75 minutes.
was subsequent to go shut, sending a dipping right-footed strike simply over the St Polten bar from distance as the sport ticked into the ultimate ten minutes.
However Metropolis must accept the two-goal benefit, making it ten wins from ten in all competitions on dwelling soil in 2024/25.
Metropolis sit high of Group D with a 100% file from our 5 matches up to now.
We’re three factors forward of Barcelona and can end in first place ought to we keep away from a defeat by two targets or extra in our remaining Champions League fixture towards the reigning champions.
How we lined up
began between the sticks, shielded by a again 4 of , , and .
sat on the base of the midfield, giving and alternatives to get ahead and be a part of the assault.
On the sharp finish, and began on the flanks with main the road.
Metropolis XI: Yamashita, Casparij (Prior 77’), Kennedy, Greenwood (C) (Aleixandri 31’), Ouahabi (Thomas 77’), Hasegawa, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Fujino, Murphy, Fowler.
Subs: Keating, Roord, O’Carroll.
St Polten XI: Schluter, Mattner (Schumacher 72’), Johanning, Balog, Touon, D’Angelo, Dubcova (Madl 46’), Hillebrand (Meyer 72’), Mikolajova, Brunnthaler (Glibo 79’), Melike Pekel (Zver 59’).
Subs: Sieger, Abiral.
Up subsequent
Metropolis are again in Barclays Girls’s Tremendous League motion this weekend as we journey to Merseyside to face Everton on Sunday 15 December.
Kick-off at Walton Corridor Park is ready for 12:30 (UK), earlier than a visit to Barcelona on Wednesday 18 December (17:45 kick-off) to spherical off 2024.