Manchester City’s Shaw shines bright with third hat-trick of the season
Key Points(4)
- However, Gemma Bonner's own goal four minutes later restored parity.
- "They (fans) are always good.
- Shaw expressed her excitement about the upcoming challenge, saying, "We’re looking forward to that game.
- Obviously, when we play United it’s always a big game, and we just have to build from this and keep the momentum.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
Manchester City's Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, fondly known as the 'Reggae Girl,' delivered a stunning hat-trick during Sunday's match against Liverpool, leading her team to a resounding 5-1 victory in the Women's Super League.
Despite her individual brilliance, Shaw modestly attributed the win to a collective team effort.
Shaw, at 26, added another impressive achievement to her career, scoring her third hat-trick of the season, following previous feats against Tottenham and Everton. Her goals in the 32nd, first-half stoppage, and 56th minutes not only secured the win but also helped Manchester City recover from a one-goal deficit at Joie Stadium.
Eighth win of the season
This victory marked their eighth win of the season, positioning them second behind league leaders Chelsea.
Reflecting on the team's performance, Shaw stated, "We spoke last year that we wanted to finish the year strong, and coming into this year we wanted to start the year strong; and I think, overall, it was a team effort." With her hat-trick, Shaw elevated her season's goal tally to an impressive 12.
In challenging rainy conditions in the northwest, Manchester City initially fell behind in the 15th minute due to Taylor Hinds' audacious lob. However, Gemma Bonner's own goal four minutes later restored parity. Shaw, hailing from Spanish Town, Jamaica, then took control of the game with her three consecutive goals, followed by Chloe Kelly's controversial penalty in the 78th minute to seal the comeback.
Tremendous support from the City fans
Shaw acknowledged the tremendous support from the City fans, especially considering the adverse weather conditions. "They (fans) are always good. They’re always like our 12th man – we always say that – especially when we’re tired and we have difficult moments, they help to push us over the line, and I think tonight they definitely played a part."
Looking ahead, Manchester City will face local rivals Manchester United in the FA League Cup on Wednesday. Shaw expressed her excitement about the upcoming challenge, saying, "We’re looking forward to that game. Obviously, when we play United it’s always a big game, and we just have to build from this and keep the momentum.”
