Sports
MANCHESTER City booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League with two games to spare after overcoming Hammarby at a boisterous Stockholm Arena.
Khadija Shaw scored both of her side’s goals to become City’s all-time top scorer in the competition with seven.
Their latest European victory ensured the Group D leaders made it four wins out of four to join Women’s Super League rivals Chelsea in the last eight.
In-form Jamaica forward Shaw fired the visitors ahead after dribbling past a couple of challenges before her deflected attempt looped over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen.
The City player’s animated celebration in front of the home fans then saw her booked, with replays also showing an object seemingly being thrown her way from the stands.
Hammarby had lost 2-0 at Manchester City last week but the Swedish side gave the visitors an almighty scare when Ellen Wangerheim tapped in an equaliser.
But Shaw made sure City advanced to the last eight for the first time since 2020-21 by restoring their lead with an outstanding finish from 20 yards out.
It required a fine double save by Khiara Keating to keep City’s lead intact in front of 20,428 fans – a record for a women’s club match in Sweden.
“Take the goals away and I’m still really proud of how she played,” City boss Gareth Taylor said of Shaw’s performance afterwards.
“She just really set off the press for us, really put them under so much pressure and gave so much energy to the team. When you have a player at the top like that, it just gives such a boost.”
City get the job done as Shaw and Keating star
Shaw will get all the headlines for her two goals but Keating came to City’s rescue with some excellent saves.
Having earlier denied Cathinka Tandberg and then jumped to her feet to keep out an even better effort from former City midfielder Julie Blakstad on the follow-up, the 20-year-old flung herself across her line to keep out another attempt by substitute Anna Josendal in the 83rd minute as Hammarby, roared on by their noisy fans, searched for an equaliser.
In the end the visitors got the job done and will now look to seal top spot in the group ahead of defending champions Barcelona.
City still have to host Austrian side St Polten on 12 December before going to Barcelona for their final group game on 18 December. If they are still top after that they will be seeded when the quarter-final draw is made on 7 February.
Meanwhile, Shaw’s season continues to flourish.
The former Bordeaux player started the night with five goals in the competition for City.
She ended it by replacing Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie as the club’s all-time leading Women’s Champions League scorer.
“It was a difficult game in front of 20,000 people,” said Shaw afterwards.
“They came and they brought the energy, which made it difficult, but we stuck at what we’re good at, and we tried to execute in every part of the game. We did that.” – bbcsport
A.I
Nov. 22, 2024
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