Throughout the years, the Champions League has heralded some of the most memorable and entertaining encounters – the ones you tell your grandchildren about; the ones you relive and re-watch over and over…
City’s quarter-final second leg tie with Linkoping will certainly live long in the memory – a thoroughly entertaining eight-goal thriller, which the Blues edged to progress to the last four with a sensational 7-3 aggregate victory.
It’s no secret that the continent’s most prestigious Club tournament is a major target for the Blues – semi-finalists at the first attempt in the 2016/17 campaign – and the away side (who lead 2-0 from the first leg) produced a superb and clinical display in the opening 45 minutes to effectively kill the tie.
With Nick Cushing’s side 4-0 up at half-time in Sweden, the second half looked a mere formality, but Linkoping produced a spirited fight-back to bag three, refusing to exit the competition without a fight.
City had never lost away on European soil and once the Blues had opened the scoring through Jane Ross’ fourth goal in three games, that run looked certain to continue.
A Georgia Stanway double and a Jen Beattie header extended the advantage, as we found Linkoping to our liking.
As the visitors took our foot off the gas in the second period though, a Marija Banusic brace reduced the deficit, before Izzy Christiansen came off the bench to restore City’s advantage. Tove Almqvist then struck to complete the scoring on another remarkable European night.
What happened…
While the Blues dominated the early possession, without creating any clear-cut chances, Linkoping – desperate to claw themselves back into the tie – were fired up.
There was a heart-in-mouth moment for City on nine minutes, as the hosts spurned a golden chance to break the deadlock. Just six yards out, Banusic received Lina Hurtig’s cut-back but watched in frustration as Beattie did just enough to deflect the effort wide.
Heeding the warning, City stepped up a gear and opened the scoring before the quarter-hour mark – Ross heading Demi Stokes’ pinpoint cross into the near post to hand the Blues a seemingly unassailable aggregate lead.
Still determined to soften the blow, Linkoping continued to press and Hurtig fired over the bar, while – as the game opened up – City sought to extend the advantage at the other end.
Stanway went close with a trademark long-range effort, which flew wide, but fared better just moments later with a superb curling strike into the bottom corner from Melissa Lawley’s lay-off.
Ross had a goal disallowed before the half-hour, latching onto a delightful Lawley through-ball before slotting past Hilda Carlen – but the flag had been raised for offside.
Stanway then doubled her personal tally, collecting Lawley’s cross and driving in off the post.
Lawley almost marked her Player of the Match display with a goal but saw her curling effort saved, before Nikita Parris’ attempt suffered the same fate moments later.
Parris then had a shot blocked, while Keira Walsh and Steph Houghton’s strikes were also thwarted.
From the resulting corner however, Beattie made it 4-0 on the night, planting a powerful header past Carlen and placing City well in control.
In the last major action of the half, Natasha Dowie had the ball in the net – a sign of things to come in the second half – but was also thwarted by the offside flag.
Banusic reduced the scoreline with a first-time strike five minutes after the break, and netted her second from the penalty spot ten minutes later to add intrigue to an already enthralling encounter.
Substitute Christiansen reclaimed the Blues’ three-goal cushion three minutes later though, volleying home Parris’ cross, after the winger had embarked on a mazy run.
The topsy-turvy clash continued to swing and there was time for Linkoping to bag a third, as Almqvist weaved her way to the near post and finished well from a tight angle to complete a crazy – but thoroughly entertaining – night of football.
What it means…
City will face Lyon in the semi-finals – at home first on 21 or 22 April and away on 28 or 29 April.
How we lined up…
Cushing fielded the same starting XI, which claimed victory in the home leg.
Ellie Roebuck took her place in goal, shielded by a backline of Stokes, Beattie, Houghton and Abbie McManus, while Walsh operated in the defensive midfield role. Stanway and Jill Scott were employed in midfield with Lawley and Parris on the wings. Ross led the line upfront.
What’s next…
City return to Super League action on Sunday 1 April (2pm), hosting Reading, before the league breaks for international duty.
Tickets for the Easter Sunday clash are available online via tickets.mancity.com and at the Etihad Stadium Ticket Office.
