Reggae Girl Khadija Shaw struck an early double as Manchester City Women made a successful start to their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Tomiris-Turan on Thursday night.
City stormed onto the attack and took the lead inside four minutes. England hero Lauren Hemp outsmarted her marker, delivered a cross and found the 25-year-old Shaw, who finished expertly.
The same duo linked up again on 20 minutes, but Shaw’s back heel was kept out by goalkeeper Aytaj Sharifova.
However, Shaw was not to be denied a minute later, as she headed home for her second of the night after converting Chloe Kelly’s center.
Spanish Town-born Shaw was proving too hot for the Tomiris-Turan defense to handle and she turned provider in first-half stoppage time, freeing Hemp to claim her first goal of the campaign with a cool finish.
Spaniard Vicky Losada’s strike on 82 minutes marked the beginning of a further three goals in the space of 10 minutes.
Deyna Castellanos, a summer signing from Atletico Madrid, who replaced Shaw on 68 minutes after the Reggae Girl had gone close to completing her hat-trick, netted a fifth from the penalty spot before Keira Walsh completed the rout in stoppage time.
City will now face Real Madrid on Sunday for a place in the second qualifying round.
City boss Gareth Taylor included five Lionesses heroes from England’s recent European Championship success in his starting line-up, awarding starting berths to Ellie Roebuck, Alex Greenwood, Hemp and Walsh, who scored the winner for England in the final against Germany at Wembley Stadium last month.
Shaw, who made her debut for the Reggae Girlz in 2015, joined City from French club Bordeaux in June last year on a three-year deal and ended the season with nine club goals.
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