SKN St. Polten 2-3 Manchester City: A late header from Mary Fowler secures a hard-earned victory for City in the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over St. Polten, maintaining their perfect start in Group D of the UEFA Champions League. This win marks their second consecutive triumph in the competition, showcasing their determination to progress further.
From the outset, City asserted their dominance, and it didn’t take long for them to find the back of the net. Just six minutes into the match, Yui Hasegawa set up Alanna Kennedy, who unleashed a stunning strike from around 25 yards out. The ball soared past St. Polten’s goalkeeper, Carina Schluter, sending the City fans into raptures.
The hosts continued to press, and just three minutes later, they came agonisingly close to doubling their lead. A deflected cross from Jess Park had Schluter scrambling, but the St. Polten keeper produced a remarkable save, tipping the ball onto the post to keep her side in the game.
As the first half progressed, City struck the woodwork once more. Mary Fowler’s powerful effort crashed off the crossbar, leaving the home side frustrated as they sought to extend their lead.
However, the tide turned just before half-time when St. Polten equalised. Melanie Brunnthaler capitalised on a scramble in the box, stabbing the ball home from close range to level the score at 1-1.
The second half saw St. Polten complete a remarkable turnaround. Less than ten minutes after the restart, Kamila Dubcova showcased her skill by swivelling in the box and firing a volley past the City defence, putting the visitors ahead for the first time in the match.
Yet, City were not to be outdone. They responded swiftly, with Chloe Kelly delivering a pinpoint cross to the back post. Aoba Fujino was on hand to strike sweetly, restoring parity and sending the match into a thrilling finale.
As the game unfolded, it was clear that both teams were eager to secure all three points, but it was City who ultimately emerged victorious. Their resilience and attacking prowess were on full display in this captivating encounter.