Mary Fowler’s late header secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for Manchester Metropolis towards St Polten within the Girls’s Champions League to proceed their unbeaten begin to the season.
Metropolis started strongly in Austria as Alanna Kennedy netted the opener in type with a surprising long-distance strike in simply the seventh minute.
The guests then got here near doubling their lead by Laura Blindkilde Brown, who was denied by the fingertips of Carina Schluter, earlier than Aoba Fujino’s effort crashed off the publish shortly after.
Regardless of their dominance, Metropolis fell quick of their seek for a second and have been finally left surprised by a shock equaliser for St Polten simply earlier than the break.
Alex Greenwood needlessly gave away a nook – after being caught in possession inside her personal penalty space – and the Metropolis captain was made to pay for her error.
The ball pinballed across the field from the ensuing set-piece and, with Metropolis failing to clear their traces, Melanie Brunnthaler wasted no time in poking residence previous Khiara Keating to degree proceedings.
St Polten’s robust play continued after the interval with Kamila Dubcova turning effectively and lashing an effort in simply after the restart – however her purpose was rapidly cancelled out by Fujino’s volley on the again publish.
Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw, Jill Roord and Laia Aleixandri have been all referred to as upon from the bench but it surely was Fowler, who additionally hit the woodwork within the first half, who finally headed Metropolis right into a late lead from an in-swinging nook.
Set-pieces determine the sport
Sky Sports activities’ Patrick Rowe:
“Both of St Polten’s goals came from City failing to clear their lines from set-pieces but, ironically, it was a corner that rescued Gareth Taylor’s side in this one.
“The defending for the primary purpose was comical in their very own space and captain Greenwood won’t be pleased together with her decision-making previous to the second purpose getting into.
“There are lessons to be learned – with clearing the ball and preventing second phases of playing being the main one – but City escape this game with all three points.”
Alanna Kennedy celebrates her early opener towards St Polten
Taylor: Lesson discovered towards St Polten
Manchester Metropolis boss Gareth Taylor:
“I’m just really pleased to get the three points. I thought it was a difficult game on a really difficult pitch.
“We did not underestimate it, removed from it. I simply assume that these video games are naturally the toughest video games, the so-called ones the place you are simply supposed to come back to somebody’s territory and win, and it is so troublesome.
“Six points out of the two games is a really good start for us.”
Fowler: St. Polten may have gained
Manchester Metropolis match-winner Mary Fowler:
“They’re a good side. That’s the great thing about the Champions League, that you can’t underestimate any team.
“They may have simply have gained that recreation on the market with the possibilities they’d, so good recreation, good leisure and I hope the followers loved that.”
Schluter: Defeat to City hurts
St Polten goalkeeper Carina Schluter:
“Proper now it is fairly irritating and it hurts. You must be capable to be pleased a couple of consequence like this, however possibly it’s going to take a number of days.
“You just want to win every game and we were close, we did really well, we played two excellent halves. I don’t think anyone expected that from us ahead of the game.
“We now know that we are able to make it troublesome for the large groups and that we do not have to make ourselves as small as many say. We’re tremendous excited for the subsequent challenges and we’ll see the way it will go.”
What subsequent within the Champions League group stage?
Listed below are Man Metropolis’s remaining fixtures:
- Hammarby (h) – November 12
- Hammarby (a) – November 21
- St Polten (h) – December 12
- Barcelona (a) – December 18
