MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 2, FC BARCELONA WOMEN 0
Mel Lawley scored a wonderful solo goal to beat FC Barcelona Women at the City Football Academy in their last pre-season friendly before the start of the new WSL season.
Some of the younger City players such as Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway were away (and scoring goals aplenty) at the Women’s U20 World Cup while ex-City striker Toni Duggan lined up for Barcelona.
City started their final pre-season friendly with Gemma Bonner at right back, with Caroline Weir anchoring midfield and Tessa Wullaert deployed behind Nadia Nadim.
Jill Scott and Kheira Hamraoui both had long range efforts saved in the opening minutes, Scott’s was a long ranger belter which had Pamela Tajonor diving to save what would have been a special goal.
Mel Lawley was lively down City’s left flank making trademark direct runs into the Barcelona defence. She was fouled on one of those runs and Weir sent the resulting free kick just wide.
City were in their comfort until Barcelona mounted an attack of their own and Mariona Caldentey sent a shot just wide of Karen Bardsley’s goal.
Lawley was at it again after after the half hour mark when another trademark run left Andrea Pereira on her backside before she cut inside and delivered a cross which Nadia Nadim screwed wide with an acrobatic overhead kick.
The visitors were hit by an injury to Hamraoui, who was replaced by Barbara Latorre after 31 minutes.
Latorre proved to be a tricky customer and Barcelona upped their game at the end of the first half, with Melanie Serrano’s shot giving Bardsley something to think about.
Mel Lawley tormented the Barcelona defence throughout and scored a great solo goal
Lawley had earlier a key role in a great City chance when she exchanged passes with Abbie McManus before her cross found Nikita Parris whose header was denied by some good Barcelona defending.
Nadim, who has asked for a transfer, didn’t have a good night of it – flagged offside several times for City when through balls emerged from midfield – she was hooked at half time for Claire Emslie while Jill Scott was rested and Keira Walsh came on.
Emslie offered an extra dimension on City’s right flank but Lieke Martens’ shot was the first dangerous one in the second period with Barcelona upping their game.
Latorre’s second half rocket was tipped over by Bardsley as the visitors rallied with tackles flying in on both sides and City’s keeper was again asked to make a save as the ball bobbled around in the box with Barca players chasing it down.
It was a moment of magic from Walsh that unlocked the Barca defence. Her defence splitting pass released Mel Lawley who completely outpaced a Barca defender who was caught napping and left her behind, rounding Tajonor and scoring a well deserved goal after 75 minutes.
Nikita Parris had been booked earlier in the second half for diving but she scored a late penalty in the 87th minute when she was brought down by Maria Leon.
Parris was immediately replaced by Jess Parks in a fitting end to a absorbing pre-season contest for City.
MATCH STATS – MAN CITY WOMEN 2, FC BARCELONA WOMEN 0
Man City Women: Bardsley, Bonner, Houghton, Beattie, McManus, Weir, Scott (Walsh 46), Wullaert, Parris (Parks 88), Lawley, Nadim (Emslie 46)
Man City Women Subs not used: Stenson, Bradley
Booked: Scott 45, Parris 61
Goals: Lawley 75, Parris 87
Barcelona: Tajonor, Gili (Pereira 55), Pereira (Van de Gragt 46, Fernandez 70), Leon Serrano, Losada, Caldentey, Hamraoui (Latorre 31, Martens 79), Duggan, Putellas, Martens (Alves 60)
Barcelona Subs not used: Fernandez, Panos, Esteve, Gutierre, Armengol, Font
Note: Rolling Subs used by Barcelona
Attendance: 1279