Manchester City made it six successive wins in all competitions as they came from behind to defeat Liverpool 2-1 in the Women’s Super League on Sunday evening. Second-half goals from Iman Beney and Aoba Fujino cancelled out Cornelia Kapocs’ opener and saw Andree Jeglertz’s side close the gap on title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United at Anfield.
Heading into the match in excellent goalscoring form, City were thwarted by an inspired Rafaela Borggrafe as the Liverpool goalkeeper made a number of good saves to deny Vivianne Miedema, Kerstin Casparij and Fujino.
And it was the hosts who started the second half the better, Kapocs heading home Liverpool's first league goal since the defeat against Merseyside rivals Everton on the opening weekend.
City continued to dominate possession but looked sluggish in attack until a Khadija Shaw header forced Borggrafe into a save, with Beney converting from the rebound. And City found a winner in the dying embers of the game as substitute Sydney Lohmann set up Fujino, who powered the ball past Borggrafe.
GOAL rates City's players from Anfield…
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Ayaka Yamashita (6/10):
She couldn't do anything about the goal, such was the quality of the cross from Liverpool's Ceri Holland.
Kerstin Casparij (5/10):
Thwarted going forward, the in-form defender was also beaten at the back post by Liverpool goalscorer Kapocs.
Jade Rose (6/10):
One of her side's better players, she was solid on the ball as City dominated possession.
Alex Greenwood (5/10):
Returning to her home city, she lost possession on a couple of occasions, receiving a yellow card in the second half.
Leila Ouahabi (5/10):
Blazed over in the second half with a wayward shot.
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Laura Blindkilde Brown (7/10):
City enjoyed lots of possession and it was largely due to the young midfielder, who was composed as usual.
Yui Hasegawa (6/10):
She kept things ticking over as always, though she was unable to find a killer pass.
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Iman Beney (8/10):
Earning a start after scoring the winner against Arsenal, she made it two-in-two with a brilliant finish from a tight angle.
Vivianne Miedema (6/10):
Perhaps City's best player in the first half, she created one or two openings with brilliant guile. She was substituted in the second half.
Aoba Fujino (7/10):
Presented with a great chance to score in the first half, her effort went too close to Liverpool goalkeeper Borggrafe. She then scored the winner with a powerful drive.
Khadija Shaw (6/10):
Her header forced a save from Borggrafe, with Beney scoring from the resulting rebound.
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Laura Coombs (6/10):
A second half substitute, she gave City more impetus going forward.
Sydney Lohmann (7/10):
Emerging from the bench in the second half, she set Fujino up for the all-important winner.
Naomi Layzell (N/A):
Not on the pitch long enough to make an impact.
Andree Jeglertz (6/10):
With no Grace Clinton in the squad, he handed a start to Beney and she repaid her manager's faith by scoring the equaliser.