Manchester City returned to winning ways with a 2-1 away victory over an impressive London City Lionesses side.
Goals from Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Lauren Hemp saw City through a high-intensity encounter in south-east London, as their opponents gave as good as they got.
This was the box-office clash of the weekend, acting as the homecoming of Alexia Putellas after Monday’s Ballon d’Or victory and providing the first big test of London City’s WSL title credentials.
The result perhaps flattered City, who spent much of this game on the back foot. Despite the loss at home, London City showed that Putellas and Michele Kang’s ambitious project can compete with the league’s elite.
City had to withstand a relentless wave of London City pressure from the first minute of the game to the last. Eder Maestre’s aggressive approach was on display in full force. London City’s relentless press has been a trademark of their playing style this season and their intensity had the away side scrambling from the first whistle.
Within the opening few minutes, City were already struggling as the ball flashed past Ayaka Yamashita’s post on several occasions. London City’s fluid front four of Daniëlle van de Donk, Kadidiatou Diani, Putellas and Isobel Goodwin were consistently pulling City’s vulnerable back line out of shape, with chances going begging early on.
But it was the away side that had the best chance of the first half. Rebecca Knaak’s header from an Alex Greenwood free-kick was impressively tipped onto the post by veteran goalkeeper Mary Earps, who then had to quickly push away the rebound to stop it narrowly from crossing the line.
This was an opportunity for Earps to make a statement after beginning this season as London City’s second-choice goalkeeper in the WSL. She was given her first start today and rewarded her manager with a dramatic stop.
In signature Earps fashion, she turned and punched her fists towards the crowd. It was a moment that made it feel like this might be London City’s day, but the real drama was yet to come.
The scoreline somehow remained 0-0 at half-time and London City continued to build pressure after the restart. However, it was City that found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute. Lauren Hemp, in such impressive form this season, picked out Shaw’s perfect run. The WSL’s leading scorer took a touch around Earps and finished, stunning the home crowd after they had watched their side dominate for nearly an hour.
London City’s desperation for an equaliser only opened the game up further. Shaw nearly made it two 15 minutes later, but her shot hit the post and somehow stayed out.
London City finally found their goal in the 72nd minute, as Jana Fernández headed home a Mapi León cross at the near post. Fernández’s knee slide in celebration was emphatic, but the home side’s joy wouldn’t last long. She had barely lifted herself off the grass before Hemp put the ball in the back of the London City net for what proved to be the winner.
City’s second seemed to kill the momentum Maestre’s side had built throughout the match. As much as they pushed to find an equaliser, City held strong and somehow navigated one of their rockiest performances of the season.
The noise around City’s vulnerabilities won’t disappear with this result, but once again they found a way to win. For London City, it was a wake-up call to the realities of challenging the elite in this league. You have to take your chances and London City had enough to win this game. Maestre’s side had 24 shots with six of them on target, generated 3.1 xG, and come away with no points.