Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw netted her ninth goal of the season to continue Manchester City’s unbeaten run and round off their 3-0 win over Sunderland in the Continental Cup.
Gareth Taylor’s side played with poise as they stretched their winning streak to seven games in a row across all competitions. Steph Houghton fed the ball into the path of Shaw who took a light touch and fired it into the back of the net to make it three goals and three points for the home side on the hour mark.
Hayley Raso had delivered the pass for Julie Blakstad to break the stalemate in the eighth minute of open play and she added a goal to her assist when she capitalised on a loose ball 30 yards out, before charging into the box and scoring two minutes after the halftime break.
City adopted a patient approach to the game against the struggling Championship side, pushing the ball flank-to-flank to open up a hectic Sunderland defence. Playing with five at the back and four across the midfield the Lasses overcrowded any City player who advanced to attack.
During the first half, Shaw struggled to get involved as she was hugely outnumbered while playing high on the last defender's shoulder as she was instantly surrounded by red and white shirts whenever she received the ball. But once she dropped deeper in the second half, Shaw was able to produce the magic that is expected in her performances.
Sunderland’s high energy and chaotic press in their defensive third worked well until the 35th-minute mark when gaps started to appear as the visitors showed their frustration in the constant ball chasing. They did have a few attacking chances but to no avail as Esme Morgan, Houghton and Alex Greenwood cleared up effortlessly.
City now face a block of three games in seven days; they host Brighton and Hove Albion in the WSL before their WSL Cup midweek fixture at Liverpool.
Their penultimate game before the Christmas period is the highly anticipated derby against United at the Etihad Stadium on December 11th.
