Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp goals earn Man City WSL win over Tottenham

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:53 am
Khadija Shaw scores the opener for Manchester City.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Goals from Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp saw Manchester City add another win to their season beating Tottenham 3-0 in a hard-fought contest at Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Shaw broke the deadlock for City late in the first half, making a darting run into the box to flick a header into the back of the net and put her side in front.

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The forward added a second only minutes into the second half with a low strike from the edge of the box that was driven past goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer into the bottom left corner of the goal, before Hemp added a third in the 76th minute with a brilliant finish to close out the match.

"It was a really good performance from the girls" City coach Gareth Taylor told ESPN. "We were brave in our play. We broke down their pressure, I think they had some decent pressure at the top end of the pitch with their front three. But once we found our rhythm, which I think has been key for us, once we found our rhythm, we started to find Yui [Hasegawa], we started to find Esme [Morgan] and Kerstin [Casparij] -- I thought it was only one team for me that was going to win it and it was probably just by how many."

Of Shaw, Taylor added: "She's done really well. She had a good season last year, people overlook that a little bit and she's obviously taken on the responsibility now of wearing the number 9 for this club. She's a young player, she's got lots more to come I believe. She'll score goals. She's proven that previously and she's proven it here."

Tottenham defended well throughout the match and had moments of creativity in their attack through wing-back Ashleigh Neville and forward Drew Spence but could not find a goal of their own.

City move to sixth in the table as they look to climb back towards the top three, while Spurs fall to eighth place.

The match was marred a serious injury to Spurs forward Ellie Brazil, who went down clutching her knee after a challenge with City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck in the opening minutes of the game. Brazil was stretchered off with a brace strapped around her left leg.

Lauren Hemp scored Manchester City's third goal.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Taylor's team attacked well from the outside through forwards Hemp and Chloe Kelly who created chances early on for the visitors.

Speaking postmatch, Shaw said of the duo: "For sure [it is a joy to play with them]. It starts on the training pitch we have been practising and making the movements. They are two incredible players, and I am lucky to be on the end of the crosses from them."

On being the WSL's top scorer this campaign, Shaw added: "The position I play in, the team look for me to score goals and I've been working on the training pitch, being at the end of crosses and perfecting what I am good at. I just try to take it game by game and achieve my objectives."

Defender Kersten Casparij combined well with Kelly up the right-hand side, showing that their partnership is beginning to flourish as they learn how to play together this season.

Rehanne Skinner's side did well to close their ranks in defense to slow City's attacks but could not withstand the pressure in the second half as the Manchester club was able to run away with the match.

Neville was a bright spot for the London club, winning the ball back multiple times for her side to stop the City counter-attack. Meanwhile Spence's long-range strike from a Neville cross came as one of Spurs best opportunities in the 72nd minute but curled just over the bar.

Chioma Ubogagu was back on the bench for Tottenham for the first time after a nine-month ban for an anti-doping violation.