Manchester City go nine points clear in WSL after Shaw’s late strike at London City | OneFootball

Manchester City are beginning to look like champions elect after going nine points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with nine games to play, striking late to claim a precious victory at London City Lionesses.

Khadija Shaw was the calmest person in the ground as she slotted in a low finish in the 86th minute after a goalmouth scramble, before leaping in delight in front of the travelling supporters as they celebrated her winner and avoided what had looked set to be a rare slip-up in Bromley.

It gave the leaders their 12th consecutive WSL victory, maintaining their formidable run since their defeat at Chelsea on the season’s opening night, and a huge psychological boost before the game next weekend with the west London side at the Etihad Stadium, where they will in effect have a chance to all but win the title at the start of February.

Without a WSL trophy in a decade since their sole title, under Nick Cushing in 2016, City now have the destiny of the title firmly in their hands and, even in a tricky test on a cold January day in south London, Andrée Jeglertz’s side were determined not to let it out of their grasp.

Asked about his side’s sizeable advantage over the defending champions, Jeglertz remained level‑headed as usual, as he replied: “Of course I am very happy to be nine points ahead of Chelsea but, on the other hand, there are nine games left to play, you know the ball can bounce in different directions. There are no easy games in the league.

“I’m not worried about the players [getting ahead of themselves]. We always talk about ‘take the next game, take the next game’. That’s the only way.”

This was by no means an easy win. Nonetheless, Jeglertz’s team could have opened the scoring through Shaw when she was picked out at the back post by Kerolin’s hooked cross, but she appeared to lose her footing and knocked an effort wide from close range, in a first half the visitors dominated.

Kerolin then raced on to a through ball and rolled it home superbly to make it 1-0, but Eder Maestre’s side struck back valiantly in the second half and played the majority of the second period deep in City’s defensive third.

The hosts’ gradual pressure was rewarded when Freya Godfrey lashed in a rising strike in front of the home supporters, from a difficult angle, and anyone who thought Manchester City were going to canter to the finish line in May was having a rethink.

The home side were watched from the stands by their owner, Michele Kang, as well as the former Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and her Barcelona teammate Patri Guijarro, who were attending as guests of friends and teammates. They watched the WSL newcomers go close when Kosovare Asllani fired over earlier in the second period, as they improved markedly after the break.

Shaw, the WSL’s top scorer, nearly won it after being fed by Vivianne Miedema, but she lashed over. The Jamaican’s moment was still to come, however, and the away side celebrated the victory in a manner that made it clear they knew how important her late strike could be.

“It was a relief, almost. It was a tough game,” Jeglertz said. “We had control partly of the game but they were lethal in the transitions and, after they scored for 1-1, the game was very open. That says something about the league, also, that there are no easy points. If we are not on our absolute top level, teams will challenge us, and London City were doing that.

“Even though the game was not the most beautiful game, we have players that can finish off the game. The players were just focusing on ‘How can we score?’ and making sure we got the three points.

“In the end, there is something in this group, that ‘finding a way to win’ is crucial, and [our] winning mentality is great. I believe so much in the players and how we are playing. If we keep on doing that, this season will end in a good way.”

It was Maestre’s first defeat since taking over during the WSL winter break but he was pleased with the improvements he feels his side are making, as he said: “We started a little scared. It’s not easy facing the first team in the league but, as the match moved forward, we were getting confident that we were able to get something more. I am very proud of the team.”

Header image: [Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA]