Aoba Fujino’s first WSL goal helped Manchester City to a 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Gaughan Group Stadium.
Vivianne Miedema’s header opened the scoring for the visitors in the 11th minute before Bethany England levelled proceedings just after halftime.
It took until the 78th minute for City to retake the lead, with Fujino’s strike into the top corner enough to secure all three points for her side and condemn Spurs to a fourth consecutive defeat in the process.
As it happened
Spurs entered the game wanting to bounce back from their most recent defeat in the WSL, a 5-0 loss in the North London Derby just before the international break.
The opening ten minutes of the game was all dominated by the home side. Eveliina Summanen tested Ayaka Yamashita, before England took a shot which was blocked and sent wide.
Against the run of play, it was Manchester City who opened the scoring in the 11th minute of the game. Fujino played a one-two with Laura Blindkilde Brown which released her down the right, before sending a well timed cross into the box which was met by Miedema to head home. The WSL’s all-time leading scorer gave her side a much needed lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis opened up play for the visitors, who now looked to be much more comfortable in possession. Bunny Shaw headed a ball over after a cross from Leila Ouahabi almost immediately after the first goal.
Play stoppd when Martha Thomas had to receive treatment on her ankle for a second time and came off in the 27th minute, being replaced by the Danish January signing Olivia Holdt.
She had an immediate impact, feeding the ball to England, who found the roof of the net with an improvised effort, floating the ball over Yamashita to equalise.
The hosts dominated play for the remainder of the first half. They had another big chance from a corner, followed by a dangerous cross from Charlotte Grant and another chance for Holdt from close range. But, both sides had to settle for an equal scoreline as they went into halftime.
The second half started with both sides creating chances. A ball over the top found Matilda Vinberg alone inside the box, but she sent it wide. Yui Hasegawa claimed the next chance in the game, which was saved by Lize Kop.
City’s next big chance was off a corner. Miedema looked to have scored her double, but Ashleigh Neville found herself on the goalline and scooped the ball onto the crossbar, denying the Dutch international.
England and Grant followed with chances for the home side, but neither could capitalize.
When a draw looked likely with 10 minutes on the clock, Fujino scored her first WSL goal, regaining City’s lead. She combined with her fellow Japanese teammate Hasegawa, who sent her down the right, before the 20 year old winger collected the ball and flicked it into the top left corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity will take all three points back to Manchester as they prepare for their return to the capital on Wednesday, when they take on West Ham in the WSL at 19:00 (GMT).
Spurs will take on Brighton next, on March 16th at 15:00 (GMT) in the WSL.
The lineups
TOT: Kop; Neville, Grant, Bartrip, Morris; Bühler, Summanen, Spence, Vinberg; Thomas, England
City: Yamashita; Layzell, Aleixandri, Ouahabi, Casparij; Miedema, Kerolin, Blindkilde Brown; Fujino, Shaw, Hasegawa