Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Manchester City: Khadija Shaw scores twice in comfortable win
- Published
Khadija Shaw has scored five goals in four Women's Super League games this season
Two goals from Khadija Shaw helped Manchester City earn a second successive Women's Super League victory at Tottenham Hotspur.
Shaw put City ahead on 41 minutes from an Alex Greenwood corner, and doubled the advantage shortly after half-time by capitalising on a defensive error.
Lauren Hemp completed the scoring with 15 minutes to go with a low finish.
The win eases pressure on City manager Gareth Taylor after his side lost their opening two WSL games.
'Bunny' Shaw restores City's bounce
After their poor league start and Champions League elimination, Taylor has attracted severe criticism for failing to get the best out of a City squad boasting plenty of firepower.
However, at Brisbane Road he was able to rely on Jamaica forward Shaw, who now has five WSL goals this season and is the league's top scorer.
After living in the shadow of the now retired Ellen White last season, the 25-year-old is coming into her own this campaign.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Taylor said: "Bunny is great to work with. She had a great season last year but got overlooked a bit. She's the number nine now - she's a young player and there's a lot to come from her."
Shaw said: "The position I play, the team look for me to score goals. I have been working on the training pitch perfecting what I am good at."
After 41 minutes in which City dominated but both sides lacked quality, Shaw made a scything run to the near post to meet Greenwood's driven set-piece and flick past international team-mate Becky Spencer.
She then forced Angharad James into a mistake after 47 minutes, dispossessing the Spurs midfielder before slamming into the bottom corner from 25 yards past the wrong-footed Spencer for her 14th WSL goal in 13 league starts.
Jamaica were given a tough group in Saturday's 2023 Women's World Cup draw, paired with France and Brazil in Group F. However, with 'Bunny' Shaw's finishing, they will have a chance.
Brazil injury scuppers Spurs
Ellie Brazil's injury caused a lengthy stoppage at the start of the game
The game was overshadowed early on by a nasty looking injury to Tottenham striker Ellie Brazil, making her first WSL start for the club after joining from Brighton in the summer.
Chasing an under-hit backpass, Brazil collided with City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and immediately hit the turf.
Brazil, who has previously spent a year out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was treated for several minutes and had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Spurs created few clear chances throughout, and were beaten long before Hemp turned Amy Turner inside out before striking a low finish inside Spencer's far post.
One positive for Spurs manager Rehanne Skinner was the return of Chioma Ubogagu, who was back on the bench for the first time after a nine-month ban for an anti-doping violation.