MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 2, LINKOPING 0 (UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL 1ST LEG)
Goals by Nikita Parris and Jane Ross saw Manchester City Women take a solid lead into the second leg of their Women’s Champions League tie with Linkoping but they spurned the chance to finish the tie on a drizzly night in Manchester.
The game changed after Lisa Lantz was sent off for a second bookable offence for the Swedish champions but in truth City could have finished off the tie at home against the disadvantaged visitors with Parris failing to convert when clean through, Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway hitting the woodwork, and Claire Emslie missing with a free shot late in the game as City put their Continental Cup Final disappointment against Arsenal behind them.
City were quick out of the blocks against a deep defending Linkoping side, who named former City player Kosovare Asllani in their side, carving out a couple of early half chances while pressing the Swedes, and Georgia Stanway went into the referee’s notebook for an early scything tackle.
Stanway’s shot was the first genuine attempt on goal in the game after Jill Scott’s cutback had been helped on by Jane Ross but she blazed it over the bar after 18 minutes.
City were certainly working hard to close down the visitors where possible, leaving them with little chance to build attacks up to threaten Ellie Roebuck in the City goal.
Demi Stokes had proved to be a potent threat down City’s left flank, and she won a corner from which City midfielder Keira Walsh rattled the left hand upright with a low rocket from 25 yards after half an hour with Hilda Carlen beaten.
Stanway’s attempt to emulate her team mate a minute later ballooned harmlessly over the bar while Ross was denied a clear chance by a defensive clearance as the ball looped into the area soon afterwards.
Linkoping had a penalty shout turned down by referee Stephanie Frappart after Steph Houghton had overcommitted in a sliding challenge on Lina Hurtig. There was barely any chance to mull over the challenge before City had taken the lead minutes later.
Disaster struck for the visitors when Lisa Lantz was sent off for handball after 36 minutes – a second bookable offence in the Linkoping area after going into Frappart’s bad notebook a minute earlier for a foul.
Linkoping pay the penalty as Man City Women capitalise on numerical player advantage
Nikita Parris’ penalty was stuck away high into the roof of the net but she will be kicking herself for missing a golden opportunity to double the advantage when clean through only to find Carlen racing off her line to block her shot while Stanway could have done better with her chance before the break.
With a player and a goal advantage City went for the kill in the second half.
Parris could have scored after 51 minutes but her shot was weak and easily cleared before Ross could follow up while Melissa Lawley’s speculative shot sailed over shortly afterwards.
Linkoping couldn’t cope with the City pressure and it was Jane Ross whose converted a Lawley cross from the right with a header from eight yards out which looped in after a mistake by Carlen who couldn’t claw the ball out of her net as it sailed in over her head.
Natasha Dowie’s shot was easily saved by Ellie Roebuck a minute later but apart from a late shot that went wide that was the extent of Linkoping’s attacking intent in the second period.
Houghton had looked better in this game since her own return from injury but couldn’t finish the game with a goal after her 20 yard free kick curled over the bar.
And Stanway hit the woodwork in the closing stages with a stunning volley that smashed against the bar while Abbie McManus’ cross was hit over the bar by substitute Claire Emslie after fellow sub Nadia Nadim had drawn defenders away.
There were big cheers for the return of long term injury victim Tessel Middag as she replaced Stanway with nine minutes to go with City playing out time till the end of an enjoyable Champions League tie.
Man City Women vs Linkoping MATCH STATS
Man City Women: Roebuck, McManus, Houghton, Beattie, Stokes, Walsh, Parris, Scott, Stanway (Middag 81), Lawley (Emslie 66), Ross (Nadim 76)
Man City Women subs not used: Bardsley, Jans, Morgan, Toone
Booked: Stanway 7
Goals: Parris (penalty 38), Ross 56
Linkoping: Carlen, Arnth, Kildemoes, Lantz, Hurtig, Almqvist (Sorensen 71), Asllani, Oscarsson, Banusic (Landstrom 46), Dowie (Maanum), Angeldahl
Linkoping subs not used: Haglund, Lennartsson, Selerud, Bogren
Booked: Lantz 35
Sent Off: Lantz 36 (second booking for a handball in the area)