Manchester City had to overcome an uphill battle against Austrian underdogs St. Polten to see-saw victory in the Women's Champions League.
Just a week after producing the club's best-ever performance to defeat defending European champions Barcelona, Gareth Taylor's side were given a huge wake-up call when they found themselves trailing 2-1 early in the second half. But Taylor, who rested a number of first-team hitters from his starting lineup, called in the cavalry in the second half, and Australian forward Mary Fowler's late header gave his team a 3-2 victory that made this inevitable. I could feel it. The Women's Super League leaders piled on the pressure early in the season.
That performance would have given Taylor still much to ponder, however, on a night when his side's defending from set-pieces was particularly poor and they displayed frustrating profligacy in front of the opposition's goal.
It initially looked like it was going to be an easy night, but City took the lead within five minutes when Alana Kennedy broke loose and fired a powerful long-range shot into the far corner. It was the Australian centre-back's first goal in club football since the win over Birmingham City in May 2022, and her first goal in the Women's Champions League. “It was a hell of a hit,” Taylor said afterward. “Honestly, when she went on strike, I wasn't sure if it was the right decision, but she proved me wrong.”
Ironically, Kennedy missed the chance that fans had expected her to convert, heading wide from Fowler's corner just two yards out at the back post. Laura Blindkilde Braun also had another clear-cut chance for City in the first half, which had been denied by a series of fine saves from Karina Schlüter, with a rather timid shot wide from close range. Goalkeeper Jess Park, Japan national team forward Aoba Fujino, and Fowler gave St. Pölten hope by not allowing a goal, but Fowler watched in agony as his shot hit the crossbar.
The home side then took advantage of City's sloppy defending to score an equalizer through Melanie Brunthaler. Taylor brought on Jamaican striker Khadijah Shaw at half-time following the scoreline (seemingly much earlier than planned), but two more great saves from Schlüter kept the score level and the Austrians In last season's Champions League stage, where they had only one point in their group, Kamila Dubkova took a shock lead with a deft shot into the corner of the goal on the turn. This time it was a deep free-kick, but City could not clear it and the Czech Republic midfielder rotated in the second phase to allow the goal.
Within four minutes of falling behind, Fujino volleyed home Chloe Kelly's well-weighted cross to make it 2-2, but Taylor was not satisfied. City came with them, bringing in A's Lauren Hemp, Jill Lord and Laia Alezandri in a triple change. Domination. In the end, Fowler headed Hemp's fatal inswinging corner kick to keep City's winning start to the Champions League intact.
Taylor said with a relieved look on his face, “I'm really happy that we got three points.'' “I think it was a difficult game on a really difficult pitch. You could see how we were bobbing, we couldn't play centrally and we were left with a lot of space. People expected us to get the three points easily like Porten. These games are never like that when you play against a team that has.”
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Taylor's much-changed starting line-up also includes the first-team debut for 18-year-old Cody Thomas, and the manager will be encouraged by elements of her performance at right-back. “It was magical for her to make her debut in this tournament,” Taylor said. “I'm really happy that she got to experience first-team football for the first time.'' City's young defender, 20-year-old England Under-23 international Naomi Leisel, starred in the surprise win over Barcelona with a goal and an assist. A week later, the academy product was given his chance.
Kelly, who was an unused substitute in the wins over Barcelona and Liverpool, also had reason to be encouraged after coming on as a substitute. There have been reports so far this season that she is considering leaving the club, apparently due to a falling out with Taylor, due to her reduced playing time, but on Tuesday he dismissed the rumors as “unprecedented”. “No,” he said, adding that he was happy with Kelly. His assist for Fujino's tying goal in the second half made a major contribution to the turnaround.
