Manchester City Women 2, Hammarby IF 0 (UEFA Women’s Champions League)
Laura Blinkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino scored the goals as Manchester City eased to a Champions League win over Hammarby IF.
Victory meant that City went to nine points after three straight Champions League wins in the midst of a 10 game winning streak in all competitions.
The visiting fans were boisterous and lend some additional atmosphere to the Joie Stadium as they were anything but easy opponents to break down.
After a sterile first 25 minutes at the Joie Stadium there were few clear chances despite Manchester City dominating possession.
The first shots on target arrived after 28 minutes with Khadija Shaw and Fowler denied as City missed the pace, directness and set piece threat of Lauren Hemp.
There was a worry as Shaw went down and required treatment after she was fouled during the first half but she could continue.
Asato Miyagawa had Hammarby’s best chance of the half, a shot that went high and wide after Julie Blakstad’s effort was blocked.
Aoba Fujino hit the post after a quick start in the second half and City’s next attack saw Laura Blinkilde Brown convert a knockdown by Mary Fowler.
Fujino saw another effort sail over the crossbar as City tried to double their lead while Shaw had the ball in the back of the net but I was ruled out for offside as City continued to dominate the ball.
Cathinka Tandberg’s 71st minute header was saved by Ayaka Yamashita as the visitors reminded the home side that they were still dangerous just as concentration levels started to slip on a cold night at the Joie Stadium.
Thea Sorbo’s rising shot also tested Yamashita while Fujino blazed another shot over the bar.
But City finally got the second goal that they deserved when Mary Fowler was fouled, the loose ball broke for Leila Ouahabi whose cross was headed in by Aoba Fujino.
Smila Valotto came on and got close to pulling a goal back but City’s work was done.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City Women 2, Hammarby IF 0
Ayaka Yamashita: 7. Little to do until Cathinka Tandberg’s second half header and a rising effort from Thea Sorbo.
Kerstin Casparij: 7. Stayed back a bit to counter the threat of ex-City winger Julie Blakstad but could afford to go forward a bit more in the second half.
Alanna Kennedy: 7. Little to trouble her on the night.
Alex Greenwood: 7. Given plenty of room to distribute the ball.
Leila Ouahabi: 7. Raided the left hand side well but looked for more from Aoba Fujino as she pushed into midfield. Created plenty down the left and set up the second goal for Aoba Fujino..
Yui Hasegawa: 7. Ran midfield as usual but few chances to pick a great forward pass as Hammarby blocked the passing lanes.
Jess Park: 7. Cool under pressure. Didn’t get to attack enough.
Laura Blinkilde Brown: 7. Ambitious attacking moves from advanced midfield role, scored a deserved goal.
Aoba Fujino: 7. Employed wide on the left as City were without Lauren Hemp but the connection with Leila Ouahabi wasn’t quite there at times. Hit the side post early in the second half after a great cross and blazed another chance high and wide late on before getting the goal she deserved with a brave diving header.
Mary Fowler: 7. Some good passes from the right, battled well but found herself in traffic when she tried to get forward. Swapped wings with Auba Fujino at the end of the first half as City tried to get some variation. Her knockdown was finished off by Laura Blinkilde Brown and she tried for a goal herself later in the game.
Khadija Shaw: 7. Headed early effort wide. Relished physical battle. Targeted for fouling and went down with an ankle injury 10 minutes before half time. Thought she had scored midway through the second half but was offside.
Chloe Kelly (on for Aoba Fujino, 81): No time to mark
Jill Roord (on for Laura Blinklilde Brown, 81): No time to mark
Lily Thomas (on for Khadija Shaw, 88): No time to mark
Laura Coombs (oOn for Jess Park, 90+1): No time to mark
Gracie Prior (on for Alex Greenwood, 90+1): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City Women 2, Hammarby IF 0
Man City Women 1, Hammarby 0: 47. Laura Blinkilde Brown scored to put City in the lead after getting on the end of a Mary Fowler knockdown.
Man City Women: 2, Hammarby 0: 80: Aoba Fujino scored a richly deserved goal after her diving header nestled into the bottom corner following a great cross by Leila Ouahabi after Mary Fowler had been fouled.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 2, Hammarby IF 0
Man City Women: Yamashita, Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood (C) (Prior 90+1), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Park (Coombs 90+1), Blinkilde Brown (Roord 81), Fujino (Kelly 81), Fowler, Shaw (Murphy 88)
Man City Women Subs not used: Keating, Startup,, Thomas, O’Carroll
Booking: Kennedy 90+2 (time wasting)
Goals: Blinkilde Brown 47, Fujino 80
Hammarby IF: Tamminen, Lennartsson, Carlsson (C), Nystrom, J Andersson (Holmberg 56), Joramo, Miyagawa (Sorbo 56), Wangerheim, Hasund (Westin 69), Blakstad (Josendal 69) Tandberg (Vallotto 86)
Hammarby IF Subs not used: Edrud, Gibson, B Andersson, Amano
Bookings: Lennartsson 45 (foul on Leila Ouahabi)
Referee: Frida Klarlund (DEN)