Shaw nets first hat-trick for Man City in FA Cup
National striker Khadija Shaw’s first hattrick for Manchester City has put them one step closer to capturing a piece of silverware early this season.
Shaw’s goals helped fuel City’s 6-0 win over Leicester City on Wednesday at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup for the seventh year in a row.
After a goalless first half, Shaw helped to lead an offensive explosion, netting in the 46th, 62nd and 85th minutes, with the team taking advantage of the chances that fell their way in the opening half but were not taken. City also got goals from Vicky Losada in the 53rd minute as well as captain Alex Greenwood and new Filippa Angeldahl in the 71st and 87th minutes, respectively, opening their accounts for the season.
City’s campaign this season has not started brightly as they were eliminated from the Women’s Champions League earlier this month and are coming off two back-to-back defeats in league play, the latter being a 5-0 rout by Arsenal last Sunday.
MORALE BOOST
City head coach Gareth Taylor said that Shaw’s performance could be the morale boost that she and the team need the way they have struggled recently.
“Confidence is a big thing and we needed this performance and win tonight (Wednesday) to give us a bit of confidence because we’ve not had much going our way currently and for her to get a hattrick in the FA Cup will be great for her,” Taylor told the club website.
Taylor said that he was pleased that Shaw managed to be more dangerous in the second half.
“I didn’t think we were playing poorly but I just wanted us to be more exciting and play with more flair than what we showed in the first half and I think that really summed up Bunny’s performance. She was a handful in the second half but in the first half, she was probably too easy to mark,” Taylor said.
It is Shaw’s first hat-trick in a competitive game since January 23 when she was playing with her former French club Bordeaux in a 7-1 thrashing of Stade de Remis.
Shaw said that she was pleased to get her first goals at home this year and is committed to contributing to her goal of winning titles.
“It’s a good feeling. It’s always good to score goals and to help the team and that is what I am here for to help the team win in whatever way possible,” Shaw told City TV. “Because I want to win trophies. And in order to win trophies we have to win the games first and foremost.”
Manchester City will face reigning league champions Chelsea in the semi-finals.