A Lauren Hemp wonderstrike and a Georgia Stanway double helped Manchester City to record a 3-0 victory over Goteborg in the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League round of 32 tie at The Academy Stadium this afternoon.
Manchester City went into the tie holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Sweden and they were never in any real danger of surrendering that lead in the return leg on home soil.
Caroline Weir had the best opportunity of the opening exchanges when a low cross from the right was controlled well by the Scotland international. She then opened her body up and tried the pick out the far top corner but fired narrowly wide.
City were certainly having the better of the chances but weren’t making them count. That was until Hemp stepped up with a moment of magic. The England youngster received the ball on the left and appeared to be going nowhere but she cut inside onto her right foot and let fly with a vicious effort from 25 yards that beat visiting keeper Jennifer Falk all ends up.
Fellow forward Stanway was introduced just after the hour mark and the City number 10 made her presence known immediately. With her first touch, she fizzed a ball across the six-yard box but it was just beyond the reach of Ellen White to tap in and double City’s lead.
They did have their second goal shortly after. A close-range effort from White was well saved by Falk in the Goteborg goal but she couldn’t direct the ball away from danger and Stanway pounced for an easy tap in.
Just moments later, City put the game and the tie to bed and again, it was Stanway on the scoresheet. White got herself in a strong position down the channel and fired a low shot goalwards. Her effort was parried well by Falk although the rebound once again found it’s way to Stanway who finished into an open goal.
White came close again in the 90th minute with a delightful backheel following a Chloe Kelly cross which agonisingly rebounded off the post.
The match finished 3-0 in City’s favour while Gareth Taylor’s side win the tie 5-1 on aggregate meaning that the Barclays FA Women’s Super League side comfortably qualify for the round of 16. The draw for the round of 16 is currently scheduled to be made by UEFA on 16 February 2021.