Houghton’s wonder goal rescues a point for City Women

ENGLAND captain Steph Houghton’s exquisite late strike rescued a point for Manchester City Women after coming from two goals down against Bristol City in the FA Women’s Super League.

The defender curled home wonderfully from outside of the area with just a minute left, after Nikita Parris had pulled one back from the penalty spot, to make it 2-2.

Bristol City had earlier gone 2-0 up with Danique Kerkdijk and Juliette Kemppi scoring in each half, but were forced to take home a draw from the Academy Stadium.

The hosts had opportunities aplenty but it was Bristol City’s Ella Rutherford who had the first clear effort, nimbly making her way past Abbie McManus and Houghton only to be stopped by goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

Rutherford proved her ability again, firing into the box after a free-kick and allowing midfielder Kerkdijk to open the scoring as she powered home after 14 minutes.

Despite repeated attempts to equalise, the Vixens absorbed their hosts’ attacking game, following the goalkeeping heroics of Sophie Baggaley.

And her efforts were rewarded when Kemppi unleashed a stunning strike from 30 yards, doubling her side’s lead early in the second half.

Last season’s second-place finishers had hope ten minutes from time when Parris scored from the penalty spot on her 100th appearance for the club after being felled in the area.

But it took something rather special for the comeback to be completed.

A set-piece was only half cleared with the ball finding its way to Houghton, pictured, on the edge of the area, with the defender clipping audaciously into the far corner with a firsttime shot to snatch the draw.

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