In a scintillating display of attacking prowess, Manchester City returned to winning ways at home in spectacular fashion, notching a resounding 7-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The match, held at the Joie Stadium, saw Jamaican striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw steal the spotlight with a remarkable first-half hat-trick.
Shaw wasted no time putting City on the path to victory, finding the net three times in the opening 40 minutes of the game. Her clinical finishing showcased her scoring prowess and set the tone for an exceptional performance.
The excitement didn’t stop there. Lauren Hemp, fresh off a stunning goal in the Manchester derby, continued her impressive form by scoring another memorable goal minutes into the second half. She also turned provider, setting up Jill Roord for another goal as City ended a two-match winless streak at home.
The scoring spree continued with Laura Coombs contributing two goals, one of them coming from Hemp’s assist. Coombs confidently slotted home a cutback from Hemp before the hour mark and later found the top corner deep into stoppage time, sealing the emphatic 7-0 win and propelling City back to third place in the Women’s Super League (WSL) standings.
Tottenham Hotspur enters match unbeaten in eight games
Before this commanding victory, City was expecting a tough challenge, as Tottenham Hotspur entered the match unbeaten in their previous eight matches across all competitions. However, City’s attacking flair proved too much for their opponents.
While chances were limited in the early stages of the game, Shaw’s header from a precise Leila Ouahabi cross opened the scoring for City midway through the first half. Tottenham did have their moments, with a formidable effort from Celin Bizet well saved by City’s goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
But City continued to impress with their attacking football, and the second goal came after half an hour. A combination play between Hemp and Roord led to a perfectly timed cross from the Dutch international, setting up Shaw for a diving header.
Shaw wasn’t done yet, and she completed her hat-trick with a sublime goal just before halftime, taking City out of sight. Lauren Hemp added her name to the scoresheet early in the second half with a brilliant strike from distance.
Hemp, the standout player of the game
Tottenham had their best chance of the game when Martha Thomas was sent clean through on goal, but Keating made a crucial save to deny the WSL’s top scorer.
Hemp, the standout player of the night, turned provider for Roord’s goal in the 53rd minute. Deyna Castellanos and Coombs, substitutes for Roord and Angeldahl, continued the scoring spree, with Coombs finding the net for the second consecutive game.
City was determined to preserve their clean sheet, and Keating made a remarkable acrobatic save to thwart Bizet’s dangerous header. At the other end, Alex Greenwood came inches away from scoring a spectacular goal with a curling free-kick that hit the crossbar.
In the end, City wasn’t satisfied with six goals and added a seventh, courtesy of Coombs, who calmly finished Jess Park’s cutback late in the match. The victory was a testament to City’s complete performance in front of their enthusiastic home crowd, providing a perfect send-off into the international break.
