MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 5, LEICESTER CITY WOMEN 0 (Continental Cup)
In-form Pauline Bremer scored her third double in her last three games as Manchester City cruised past Leicester City in the Continental Cup.
Bremer’s goals made the game safe for City after Caroline Weir had opened the scoring the first half against the Foxes, while Weir completed her own double and Tessa Wullaert late on as the scoreline reflected City’s dominance.
Back in the familiar surroundings of the City Football Academy Stadium, Nick Cushing’s team made themselves at home after a slow start against Leicester.
City rested players against Championship side Leicester City ahead of their Champions League game against Lugano on Wednesday.
There were debuts for Karima Benemeur, Matilde Fidalgo, Laura Coombs, and Tyler Toland while Jess Park and Megan Campbell got their first starts of the season.
City didn’t make the most of Megan Campbell’s corners and crosses from the left, and only had two chances from Park and a header by Coombs to show for early domination against the Foxes.
City made the breakthrough that their dominance deserved in the 28th minute.
Coombs lifted the ball into the path of Caroline Weir who rounded Scarlett Field and Rachel Brown before calmly scoring City’s opening goal.
Field’s save after the restart ensured that Toland didn’t double City’s lead immediately while Pauline Bremer also forced the Leicester ‘keeper into a save.
Leicester’s best chance of the half came chen Holly Morgan headed Libby Smith’s corner over the bar in injury time.
Park created a chance for Steph Houghton and saw her dipping shot go over the bar in the second half as City continued to dominate.
It was inevitable that when City scored again that Park would be involved – the square ball from the right found the German and she made no mistake, firing home from 10 yards through a crowd of bodies and past Field’s outstretched leg in the 57th minute.
Bremer scored again in the 65th minute after racing onto a Walsh through ball to score past Field.
With the game won Tessa Wullaert came on and was denied a goal by another great Field save at close range as she tried to lift it past her with 20 minutes to go.
Weir scored her second of the game after Wullaert turned provider with 14 minutes to go, crossing from the left for the Scot to convert from close range.
Annabel Blanchard gave Benemeur a little work to do late in the game when her tame long range shot gave the French stopper plenty of time to make the save.
Wullaert finally got the goal she was after 8 minutes from time to give the scoreline added gloss while Park shot wide with the chance to get on the scoresheet looming right at the end as City kept pressing for goals.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 5, Leicester City Women 0
Man City Women 1, Leicester City Women 0: 28. Laura Coombs lifted the ball into the path of Caroline Weir who rounded Scarlett Field and Rachel Brown before slotting City’s opening goal in the 28th minute.
Man City Women 2, Leicester City Women 0: 57. Pauline Bremer brought the ball onto her right foot and scored after a square pass by Jess Park played her in.
Man City Women 3, Leicester City Women 0: 65. Pauline Bremer ran clean through onto a Keira Walsh ball over the top and slotted past Scarlett Field.
Man City Women 4, Leicester City Women 0: 76. Weir scored her second of the game after Wullaert turned provider with 14 minutes to go, crossing from the left for the Scot to convert from close range.
Man City Women 5, Leicester City Women 0: 82. Tessa Wullaert makes it 5.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 5, Leicester City Women 0
Man City Women: Benameur, Fidaldo, Houghton (C), Bonner, Campbell, Walsh, Toland (Wullaert 66), Park, Weir, Coombs (Bissell 87), Bremer (Beckie 66)
Man City Women Subs not used: Roebuck, Mannion, Stokes, Scott
Goals: Weir 28, 76; Bremer 57, 65; Wullaert 82
Leicester City Women: Field, Natalie Johnson, Everett, Morgan (C), Cataldo, Jhamat (Dugmore 60), Smith, Blanchard, Paul (Bailey-Gayle 70), James (Lucy Johnson 60), Brown
Leicester City Women Subs not used: Lambourne, Thomas, Taylor, Popple
Booked: Blanchard 62
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Attendance: 1,403