Jamaican star Khadija "Bunny" Shaw was once again the difference-maker for Manchester City, scoring the opening goal in their 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday at the Joie Stadium. The win sees City advance to the semi-finals, keeping their hopes of silverware alive in a crucial stage of the season.
Shaw broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Mary Fowler before finishing with precision. The striker calmly took a touch, waited for Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo to commit, and slotted the ball through her legs with a composed strike.
“We felt if we could get them on the back foot, we could exploit them, and it worked,” Shaw said after the match. “As the ball came in, I saw where the 'keeper was and she gave me the time to take the touch. I knew she was going to spread, so I thought to put it hard and low between the legs, and it worked.”
City continued to press after Shaw’s opener, and Jess Park sealed the win in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a defensive error before firing across goal to double the advantage. Villa fought hard to get back into the game, nearly pulling one back when Rachel Daly came close in the dying moments, but City’s defence held firm to secure the clean sheet.
Shaw acknowledged the importance of the victory, especially with City’s busy schedule ahead. “It was important. We spoke as a team about just getting the result and moving into the next round. We ultimately got the job done, so it was a good day,” she said.
The in-form striker also spoke about the challenges of balancing multiple competitions, with City set to play in the League Cup final next week. “We’re in a semi-final now and have a final next week in the League Cup, so we just need to focus on that,” Shaw added. “We have exciting games coming, but we have to focus on one game at a time.”
With her latest goal, Shaw continues to be a key figure in City’s attack, demonstrating why she is regarded as one of the best strikers in the world. As the team prepares for the next phase of the FA Cup and their upcoming League Cup final, City fans will be hoping their prolific Jamaican forward continues her scoring form on the road to more silverware.
Photo Manchester City Women