Australian internationals Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler have book-ended a see-saw 3-2 win for Manchester City with splendid goals in the Women’s Champions League match at Austrian club St Polten.
And on a big night for the Matildas in Europe’s top club competition, Caitlin Foord was also on target for another English Women’s Super League team in Arsenal’s 4-1 home victory over Norwegian side Valerenga.
Central defender Kennedy scored her first ever goal in Europe for the WSL leaders in startling fashion, firing a thunderous, unstoppable 25-metre strike after just five minutes of the group D tie in Vienna on Wednesday.
It led the Campbelltown-born defender to enjoy miming a ‘telephone’ celebration for a goal that really was worth ringing home about.
But City, who had beaten champions Barcelona in their opening fixture and had expected St Polten to be much easier to dispatch, were in for a rude shock at Viola Park as Melanie Brunnthaler levelled and Kamila Dubcova then put the hosts ahead either side of halftime.
After Japan international Aoba Fujino levelled with her first goal for the club, it was in-form 21-year-old Fowler who secured the three points in the 80th minute when she soared highest in a crowded goalmouth to head home Lauren Hemp’s corner.
Her goal crowned an outstanding performance which earned Fowler the player of the match award, while the late goal ensured City won their sixth game on the trot in a brilliant start to the season.
“Just happy to get that win with the girls and obviously being able to help in that way with a goal feels really good,” Fowler smiled.
“I’m most proud of the girls for being able to come from behind and change that energy and get the result in the end.”
The win came even though manager Gareth Taylor made six changes to City’s line-up following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Liverpool to help manage the players’ workload, with star striker Khadija Shaw getting a rest until coming on after halftime.
It allowed Fowler to lead the line, which she did with real quality, while nearly scoring a long-range second just after halftime, only to be thwarted by a fine save from Carina Schluter.
At Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium home, Foord helped the club rebound from the shock of their manager Jonas Eidevall having resigned on the eve of the match after a poor start to the season.
Foord continued the sharp form which brought her the club’s player of the month award in September with her poacher’s goal, snaffled after the Valerenga keeper parried a 29th minute shot.
With Emily Fox, Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo also scoring, the win gets Arsenal’s campaign back on track after their 5-2 hammering by Bayern Munich the previous week.
Bayern looked good again in their 2-0 win at Juventus, while Barcelona took out the irritation of their Man City loss on hapless Hammarby, destroying the Swedish side 9-0.
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