Man City back on top of group with victory over Hammarby

Second-half strikes from Laura Blindkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino continued Manchester City’s 100% start to the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the expense of Hammarby IF.

City were made to work for their victory over the Swedish side, who lost to the other Group D heavyweights Barcelona 9-0 in their last away trip, but backed by loud and enthusiastic travelling fans they never looked like laying down for the Women’s Super League leaders.

After a frustrating first half, which despite dominating possession they could have ended behind had Asato Miyagawa kept her shot from 10 yards out down, City came out a different side after the break.

Fujino saw a shot come back off the post inside a minute after the restart and shortly afterwards Blindkilde Brown converted Mary Fowler’s pull-back.

Though City threatened more, they needed Ayaka Yamashita to make a fine save from Thea Sorbo before Fujino finally netted to put the game beyond doubt 10 minutes from time.

The win puts City top of Group D with nine points, ahead of Barcelona on six and Hammarby on three.

It is very tempting to look forward to the last Group D match, when Barcelona host Manchester City in an early Christmas cracker as the Azulgrana look to get revenge for the 2-0 defeat suffered last month.

However, Hammarby showed enough tonight to give themselves confidence for the return fixture on Thursday week.

With the temperature likely to be around the freezing mark, City are unlikely to have the perfect surface of the Joie Stadium to play their football and the visitors, as they did in this match, will attack on the break feeling they have the artillery to hurt the Super League leaders.

The Swedish outfit, whose fans roared them on for the whole 90 minutes, had three very good chances to score in this match – albeit fewer than City – and will feel they are due a little luck back in the Tele2 Arena.

With Barcelona smashing SKN St. Polten 7-0, they have a nine-goal superior goal difference, which will not matter if City keep their 100% record going until they visit Catalonia – and get a point there.

This is especially the case in Stockholm next time out, just a few days after what is likely to be an epic WSL battle with Chelsea on Saturday.

Hammarby made it hard for City to break down their defence but the runs of Blindkilde Brown breaking the lines played a big part in City’s increased effectiveness after the break. The key moment fell to her and she steered home well for her second of the season, while on other occasions provided key passes for team-mates when arriving in the opponent’s penalty area.

Manchester City: Yamashita 7; Casparij 7, Greenwood 7, Kennedy 7, Ouahabi 7; Park 6, Hasegawa 6, Blindkilde Brown 8*; Fowler 7, Shaw 6, Fujino 6.

Subs: Kelly 6, Roord 6, Murphy, Coombs, Prior.

Hammarby: Tamminen 7; Lennartsson 6, Carlsson 7, Nystrom 7, Andersson 6; Joramo 6, Miyagawa 6; Wangerheim 6, Hasund 6, Blakstad 7; Tandberg 6.

Subs: Holmberg 6, Sorbo 7, Josendal 6, Westin 6, Vallotto 6.

39′ TWO GREAT CHANCES FOR HAMMARBY! A fine run and cross on the right flank from Wangerheim but Blackstad tried to turn twice to get space but her effort was blocked and then Miyagawa shot over the bar. The best chances of the game so far.

46′ OFF THE POST! What a start to the half. Ouhabi crosses from the left flank to the back post where Fujino’s strike looked to have beaten the Hammarby stopper at the near post but comes back off the post.

47′ GOAL! MAN CITY (BLINDKILDE BROWN) 1-0 HAMMARBY! Fowler retrieved a cross on the left flank and pulled the ball back from the by-line to the City midfielder who slotted first time home from six yards out.

51′ FUJINO WITH A DECENT STRIKE FROM 20 YARDS OUT! City are a different side now. This time Fujino lines up a shot which arrows just a yard over the target.

74′ FINE STOP FROM YAMASHITA! Sorbo with a blistering shot from the edge of the area. The corner was cleared to Sorbo who strikes firmly on target but the Japanese stopper tips over the bar.

76′ FUJINO WITH ANOTHER CHANCE! Fowler played in Blindkilde Brown who squared the ball to Fujino but, from seven yards out, struck over the bar with her left foot.

80′ GOAL! MAN CITY (FUJINO) 2-0 HAMMARBY! Finally Fujino gets the goal she has been close to all night as she stoops to head home Ouhabi’s cross at the back post.

88′ VALOTTO SHOOTS JUST WIDE OF THE CITY GOAL! If the substitute’s strike had been on target it would have beaten Yamashita but the ball drifts just wide.

• 10 – Manchester City’s winning run extends to double figures in all competitions.