Lauren Hemp bookended a 4-2 victory for Manchester City against Liverpool as the WSL champions maintained a winning start to their title defence.
But up until the 90th minute, that record and their 13-match winning run at the Joie Stadium were in serious jeopardy. Man City had to fight back to equalise in the first half before some late errors from Liverpool were taken advantage of.
An own goal from Reds captain Grace Fisk put the hosts 3-2 ahead as five minutes of added time were shown. Sensing a draw in the offing, Liverpool committed too many bodies forward, allowing the electric Hemp to speed down the field and slot home past former teammate Khiara Keating.
The England international had made it a perfect start for the hosts too when she finished off a fine team move for her first goal since November.
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Lauren Hemp scored her first goal since November as Manchester City took the lead early against Liverpool in the WSL.
But Liverpool responded brilliantly and took a deserved lead. A defensive mix-up allowed Alice Bergstrom to fire home, before Vivien Endermann – who set up the first goal – volleyed in a wonderful effort that fizzed through Ayaka Yamashita’s outstretched hand.
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Alice Bergstrom and Vivien Endemann both scored as Liverpool came from 1-0 down to lead Manchester City after 29 minutes.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s early play for a third successive Golden Boot continued too as she scored her fourth WSL goal of the season to level. Keating spilled a save from Hemp’s initial shot with Shaw there to poke home from close range.
It demonstrated once again why keeping Shaw at the club was Man City’s best business of the summer.
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Bunny Shaw capitalised on Khiara Keating’s calamitous mistake as Manchester City equalised against Liverpool late in the first half.
In a game where errors decided the outcome, it was Man City who came off the better and extended their lead at the top of the table to five points ahead of the remaining games this weekend. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain third with four points.
The key moments from the Joie Stadium…
13: GOAL! A wonderful team move is finished by Hemp for her first goal of the season.
19: GOAL! A mix-up at the back from Man City allows Bergstrom to slot home.
28: GOAL! After a period of sustained pressure, Liverpool go ahead. Endermann’s effort from close range goes through the hands of Yamashita.
39: POST! Shaw hits the woodwork as Man City search for a late first-half equaliser.
45+2: GOAL! A spill from Keating is turned home by Shaw from close range.
60: SAVE! Keating is needed to turn a Shaw effort over the bar.
90: GOAL! A horrible own-goal from Fisk puts Man City back in front.
90+5: GOAL! A breakaway from Hemp sees her slot easily past Keating to wrap up Man City’s win.
What the result means…
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
