A Toni Duggan penalty plus Kosovare Asllani’s first goal for the Club secured the win, ensuring the Blues preserved a 100% record in their three exhibition games.
Nick Cushing’s side had already despatched Damallsvenskan and W-League champions Rosengard and Melbourne City earlier this month, and welcomed Swedish opponents Pitea to Manchester with less than a month to go to the start of the new Super League season.
The Blues boss made one change from the side that defeated their Australian sister Club, with Megan Campbell replacing Abbie McManus in the heart of defence.
In another dominant display, the hosts controlled possession from the start but struggled to create any clear-cut chances until the 23rd minute, when Jane Ross was upended in the area and referee Arran Williams pointed to the spot.
Up stepped the ever-dependable Duggan to coolly slot into the bottom corner and spark the Blues into life.
With the lead, the home side moved up the gears and pressed for a second.
Set-piece specialist Steph Houghton saw a typically well hit free-kick pushed away by Hilda Carlén, and Ross was inches away from connecting with Demi Stokes’ cross.
Asllani then tested the Pitea shot-stopper from close range before she opened her City account just before half-time, coverting Duggan’s delivery with a lovely looped effort to give the home side a comfortable lead at the break.
As Cushing’s side continued where they left off in the second half, the Swede could have doubled her tally but fired wide - and the hosts were punished against the run of play minutes later.
A lapse in concentration allowed Tempest-Marie Norlin a clear route to goal and the forward slid the ball beyond Karen Bardlsey to halve the deficit.
City responded well to the setback and sought to regain their two-goal cushion. Duggan and Isobel Christiansen both tried their luck, with the latter forcing Carlén into a fine fingertip stop from distance. Substitutes Nikita Parris and Georgia Stanway also went close.
Though the Blues were unable to kill the game, Pitea rarely ventured into the opposition half - and when they did, they could not find a way through the hosts’ back line.
So City held on for the win to ensure their pre-season campaign ends on a high and with the team full of confidence ahead of the new season.
First @MCWFC goal for @KosovareAsllani 🙌🏻 played so well! Roll on the start of the season 👊🏻
— Liz (@lizerpool) February 25, 2016
Great result & performance by the girls @MCWFC my MOTM would be @toni_duggan played brilliantly and scored a neat penalty and gave 100%👏🏻⚽️💙
— Craig Nightingale (@solo101_craig) February 25, 2016
@MCWFC Get in!!! Loving the the confidence from the girls, This season is bringing trophies ⚽️🏆🏆🏆⚽️ https://t.co/XSxhO9yXqp
— Carol Gibson (@cazgibbo) February 25, 2016
Manchester City Women’s Seasoncards for 2016 are now on sale.
Be part of the action as the team challenge for silverware on four fronts, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in the Club’s history.
Click here for more details.
