Her Football Hub
·19 September 2024
Her Football Hub
·19 September 2024
A sparkling five goal win over Paris FC got Manchester City’s 2024/25 campaign off to a perfect start. A standout performance from Jess Park gave her side a likely insurmountable lead as they head into next weeks’ second leg.
Paris FC
Nnadozie; Hocine, Koroshec, Corboz, Bourdieu, Mateo, Dufour, Thiney, Ndongala, Greboval, Davis
Manchester City
Yamashita; Aleixandri, Greenwood, Miedema, Fowler, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Fujino, Hasegawa
From the off, Manchester City were the stronger of the two sides. Dominating the early possession, Gareth Taylor’s side started their competitive season with a clear desire to retain the ball as much as possible. Despite early chances, new signing Vivianne Miedema was the first to break the deadlock with less than ten minutes of the first half remaining.
Capitalising on an assist from Jess Park, the Dutch international got the goal scoring action underway. Just two minutes later and Park turned from provider to scorer, slotting home her effort to send her side in two ahead at the break.
The 49th minute gave Australian forward Mary Fowler her first of the competitive season. Following Lauren Hemp’s saved effort in, the Matilda’s star lengthened City’s advantage early in the second half. A second for Park came in the 58th minute with the youngster capitalising on a failed clearance. Chloe Kelly rounded out the action with just over ten minutes to play, with the No.9 perfectly positioned to tap the ball beyond Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Despite the heavy defeat, Paris retained their trademark high and aggressive press throughout the first leg. Whilst the five goal lead may be enough to carry the Sky Blues through to the group stage, Taylor’s side will be all to aware of the dangers the French side can pose. Knocking both Arsenal and Wolfsburg out of the 2023/24 Champions League, Paris remain a dangerous opponent on the European stage.