Mary Fowler Earns WCL Win for Relieved Manchester City After St Pölten Scare



Manchester City edged out a thrilling 3-2 victory against Austrian underdogs St Pölten in the Women's Champions League (WCL), thanks to a late winner from Australian forward Mary Fowler. Despite coming off a historic victory over reigning champions Barcelona, Gareth Taylor’s team had to dig deep against a resilient opponent, highlighting both the squad’s depth and vulnerabilities.

The match got off to an ideal start for City, with Australia defender Alanna Kennedy scoring a stunning long-range goal within the first five minutes. The powerful strike, Kennedy’s first in club football since May 2022, gave the impression that this would be a routine outing for City. However, St Pölten, unfazed by their early setback, grew into the game. A series of missed opportunities by City allowed their opponents to stay in contention, with goalkeeper Carina Schlüter performing heroics to keep her side in the match.

City's profligacy in front of goal soon came back to haunt them. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, they failed to convert critical opportunities, with Kennedy missing a close-range header and Laura Blindkilde Brown firing wide. As frustration mounted for City, St Pölten capitalized on their defensive lapses, with Melanie Brunnthaler netting the equalizer after some sloppy defending from a set piece.

In response, Taylor made an early halftime substitution, introducing Khadija Shaw in an attempt to regain control. Yet, it was St Pölten who struck next, taking a shock 2-1 lead through Kamila Dubcova. Dubcova’s goal, a well-taken strike following another defensive miscue by City, left Taylor's side reeling.

However, City responded swiftly. A beautifully crafted cross from Chloe Kelly was met by Aoba Fujino, who volleyed home to make it 2-2. The equalizer sparked City into action, and Taylor wasted no time in bringing on heavyweights Lauren Hemp, Jill Roord, and Laia Aleixandri. Their introduction shifted the game firmly in City's favor, with waves of attacking pressure finally breaking St Pölten’s resistance.

The decisive moment came when Hemp delivered a pinpoint inswinging corner, which Mary Fowler rose to meet, heading home the winner and securing a hard-fought victory for City. Fowler’s goal capped off a tense night for City, who showed resilience but also exposed defensive frailties that Taylor will need to address moving forward.

The manager expressed his relief after the match, acknowledging the challenges his side faced. “I’m just really pleased to get the three points,” Taylor said. He pointed out the difficult playing conditions and praised the opposition, warning that matches like this are never easy, despite external expectations. Taylor also took the opportunity to highlight the debut of 18-year-old Codie Thomas, who was handed her first senior appearance at right-back and showed promise, adding to the list of young talents breaking through at the club.

As City celebrated the victory, there were signs of brewing issues behind the scenes, particularly regarding Chloe Kelly. Rumors of her discontent with limited game time have been circulating, though Taylor dismissed these as a “non-event.” Nevertheless, Kelly’s contribution—a vital assist for Fujino’s equalizer—was a reminder of her importance to the team.

Conclusion

Manchester City’s triumph over St Pölten demonstrated their ability to grind out results even when far from their best. Yet, the match also revealed weaknesses, particularly in defense and finishing, that could prove costly against tougher opponents later in the competition. Mary Fowler’s heroics sealed the win, but the narrow margin against a less-fancied side raises questions about City’s consistency. As the season progresses, Gareth Taylor will need to ensure his team tightens up at the back and improves their clinical edge in front of goal if they are to compete for European glory.

Questions for the Reader

- Do you think City’s defensive issues are a result of resting key players, or do they indicate deeper tactical problems?
- How crucial is the depth of City’s squad in their campaign for success in the Women’s Champions League?
- Will Chloe Kelly’s recent dip in playing time affect her long-term future at the club, despite her clear impact on the pitch?
- Can Manchester City maintain their winning momentum in Europe, or will inconsistency be their downfall in the later stages of the competition?

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** 玛丽·福勒进球助曼城险胜圣珀尔滕，惊魂过后松了口气**

在一场惊心动魄的女子欧冠比赛中，澳大利亚前锋玛丽·福勒的关键进球帮助曼彻斯特城以3-2险胜奥地利黑马圣珀尔滕。这 场比赛让曼城有惊无险地拿下了胜利，尽管他们刚刚战胜卫冕冠军巴塞罗那，表现堪称辉煌，但面对顽强的对手，瓜雷斯·泰勒 的球队不得不拼尽全力，展现了球队的深度与一些隐忧。

比赛开始时，曼城占得先机，澳大利亚后卫阿兰娜·肯尼迪在比赛第5分钟打入一记精彩的远射。这是她自2022年5月以来 首次在俱乐部比赛中进球。肯尼迪的这粒进球似乎为曼城奠定了轻松取胜的基础。然而，圣珀尔滕并未因早早失球而气馁，他们 逐渐找回节奏。尽管曼城占据了大量控球优势并创造了多次机会，但圣珀尔滕的门将卡里娜·施吕特尔屡次做出精彩扑救，令曼 城的进攻无功而返。

曼城在门前挥霍机会的代价很快显现出来。尽管他们一直掌控局面，但多次错失良机，肯尼迪近距离的头球偏出，劳拉·布林德 基尔德·布朗也将球打偏。随着曼城球员的急躁情绪渐浓，圣珀尔滕抓住曼城防守上的失误，由梅拉妮·布伦塔勒将比分扳平。

面对局面失控，泰勒在半场时做出调整，提前换上了贾马尔·肖，试图重新掌握比赛节奏。然而，圣珀尔滕再次制造惊喜，由卡 米拉·杜布科娃抓住曼城防守失误，转身射入一球，将比分反超至2-1。

不过，曼城迅速作出回应。克洛伊·凯利送出精妙传中，日本前锋藤野葵凌空抽射破门，将比分扳为2-2。扳平比分后，泰勒 立刻换上了球队的三名关键球员：劳伦·亨普、吉尔·罗尔德和拉伊娅·阿莱克桑德里。她们的登场使曼城全面掌控了比赛，连 续的进攻终于让圣珀尔滕防线崩溃。

比赛的决定性时刻出现在最后阶段，亨普开出的角球被福勒头球顶入，帮助曼城以3-2取得胜利。福勒的进球为曼城锁定了胜 局，但这场艰难的胜利也暴露出球队在防守和进攻效率上的不足，泰勒需要在接下来的比赛中进行调整。

赛后，泰勒对球队的表现表示了宽慰，但也强调了比赛的艰难。“我很高兴能拿到三分，”泰勒说。他指出了场地条件的困难， 并称赞了对手的顽强表现，警告说这样的比赛从来都不容易，尽管外界可能认为对手是“送分童子”。泰勒还特别提到18岁的 科迪·托马斯，这名年轻右后卫完成了她在曼城的一线队首秀，表现可圈可点。

与此同时，克洛伊·凯利的比赛时间减少引发了一些流言，称她对目前的状况不满。然而，泰勒对此进行了否认，称这完全是 “子虚乌有”。尽管如此，凯利在比赛中的助攻展示了她对球队的重要性。

### 结论

曼城在这场比赛中表现出色的韧性帮助他们逆转取胜，但球队在防守和射门效率方面的问题同样明显。玛丽·福勒的关键进球确 保了胜利，但对阵一支实力稍弱的对手，曼城如此艰难地取胜也让人对他们的稳定性产生疑问。随着赛季的深入，泰勒需要加强 防守，并提升进攻端的效率，才能在欧冠赛场上走得更远。

### 留给读者的思考问题

- 你认为曼城的防守问题是因为轮换阵容导致的，还是反映了更深层次的战术问题？
- 曼城深厚的阵容深度在他们的欧冠征程中有多重要？
- 尽管克洛伊·凯利在比赛中有重要表现，但她的上场时间减少是否会影响她在球队的长期前景？
- 曼城能否在欧洲赛场上保持连胜势头，还是说他们的不稳定表现会在后期拖累他们？