Shaw’s record hat-trick moves City closer to WSL title

MANCHESTER, England (CMC):

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored a superb first-half hat-trick as Manchester City inched closer to the Women’s Super League (WSL) title with the 5-2 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

The Jamaican international found the back of the net in the eighth, 18th and 21st minutes, making it the fastest hat-trick in WSL history and her fourth successive one against Tottenham at home in the league.

It also extended Shaw’s lead as the top goalscorer, carrying her tally for the season to 18 goals from as many WSL matches.

Goals from Brazilian Kerolin in the 37th minute and a 45th-minute own goal, then helped City secure a comfortable victory.

All three of Shaw’s goals were headers as Tottenham could not handle City’s set-pieces and were easily beaten in the air.

Tottenham drew level after Shaw’s first strike, when Olivia Holdt snuck in behind City’s backline to make it 1-1 in the 15th minute, before Shaw re-established City’s lead three minutes later.

Kerolin scooped in Lauren Hemp’s pull-back and City had five goals before half-time when Amanda Nilden deflected Vivianne Miedema’s header into her own net.

With the win, City moved eight points clear at the top of the WSL table to 46 points from 18 matches. Manchester United are second on 38 points and defending champions Chelsea, third on 37 points.

Arsenal are fourth on 35 points but have two games in hand.

In a post-match interview, Bunny said it was a “wonderful feeling” to not only grab the hat-trick but also help City secure the win.

Shaw said: “The most important thing for me was the win, because that puts us closer to the title.

“So, I think getting the win and getting the quickest hat-trick [in WSL history] is a wonderful feeling.”

Manchester City Women’s coach Andrée Jeglertz while praising Shaw for her consistency in front of goal, was quick to point out that there is much more to the Jamaican’s game.

“She’s a great player. She’s scoring goals for us, we always talk about that, but how she works defensively.

“At set plays but also in the press, she’s improved on that a lot during the year, but also in setting up team-mates.

“There’s a lot of things in her today that she should be proud of, and the team should be proud of. I’m really happy for that.”

Quotes taken from mancity.com