WSL: Man City in seventh heaven with statement win over Tottenham | OneFootball

In a seven goal thriller, Manchester City ran rampant over Tottenham Hotspur. Wonder goals combined with a relentless press from the hosts treated fans to a spectacle at the Joie Stadium.

Khadija Shaw netted a first half hat-trick to set the tone for the evening, and goals from Lauren Hemp, Jill Roord, and Laura Coombs added to the hefty scoreline.

The hosts had gone into the tie on a shaky run of form, having failed to take more than a point in Wednesday’s Conti Cup draw to Leicester City. Spurs were without a loss in their previous six league matches, with their unbeaten run stretching back to the beginning of October.

Starting XIs

Manchester City

Keating; Aleixandri, Kennedy, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Roord, Hemp, Angeldahl, Kelly, Shaw

Tottenham

Spencer; Ale, Bühler, Bartrip, Neville, James, Summanen, Zhang, Bizet, Thomas, Clinton

How it went

Man City got the game off to a flying start as they came flying out the blocks early to take the game to Tottenham. The high press from the home side seemed to subside as the visitors began to find their rhythm.

Following a good spell of play from Spurs, a quick break from Taylor’s side gifted the hosts the opener. Shaw capitalised on a well-worked piece of team play to poke the ball home at the back post with 23 minutes on the clock. Just moments after the opener, Robert Vilahamn’s side almost found the equaliser.

The away side pressed the City back line, the action stemming from a quick interception by Asmita Ale. The resulting shot forced Khiara Keating into a diving save to preserve her clean sheet.

Just nine minutes after the opener, Shaw doubled her tally for the evening. Heading the ball beyond Becky Spencer, the Jamaican international bagged her brace with just over ten minutes of the first half to play. Seven minutes before the break Shaw bagged her hat-trick for the evening. Taking the ball with a lovely first touch, the No.21’s effort left Spencer with little chance to prevent the goal.

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Second half action

Taylor’s side picked up where they left off before the break with some great team play from the right side. The move began with Shaw cutting back from the line into the 18-yard box. Despite a great block from the visitors, Hemp made it four just five minutes into the second half.

Barely five minutes later, Roord headed home from close range. The Dutch international was ready at the back post to capitalise on a wonderful chipped cross from Hemp.

In a perfect example of an instant impact substitution, Coombs made it six for the hosts just minutes after coming onto the field. The England international smashed the ball beyond Spencer in the Tottenham goal as City ran rampant.

Spurs struggled to recover their foothold in the game with the hosts firmly in control. With nine extra minutes, City pressed on with a lovely over-the-top ball to Jess Park on the right flank. The No.16 sent the Spurs full-back the wrong way with a fantastic cross into the box. Close control combined with an outstanding first touch from Coombs set her up to bury the ball in the top corner.

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