Shaw’s hat-trick lifts City up to second in WSL

LONDON, England (CMC):

Reggae Girl Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who has been in lethal form, followed up a four-timer last week with a hat-trick yesterday as Manchester City came from behind to beat struggling Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL).

The treble took the six-foot Spanish Town-born forward’s tally in all competitions to 24 goals in 21 City appearances this season.

Shaw, 26, whose four goals last weekend came in an 8-1 thrashing of Championship side Bristol City in the Women’s FA Cup, levelled in first-half injury time, added a penalty two minutes after the break and completed her hat-trick with an 83rd-minute strike.

Celin Bizet’s 31st-minute opener had stunned the Blues as Spurs threatened to repeat last season’s shock win at Academy Stadium.

The victory against a Spurs side who arrived on a seven-match losing streak lifted City up to second place, three points behind Manchester United, and was boss Gareth Taylor’s 73rd in 100 games in charge of the club.

City have won more games (10) and more points (32) since the beginning of October than any other WSL side.

After a trip to Brighton next Sunday, City’s following two WSL games are against title rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

City sought a fast start, Shaw flashing across the face of goal, Lauren Hemp dragging wide and Chloe Kelly almost finding the bottom corner.

OUTSTANDING SAVES

Goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela twice denied Shaw with outstanding saves, but the WSL top-scorer was not to be denied, with quickfire goals before and after half-time, breaking the resistance of 10th-placed Spurs whose line-up included Shaw’s Jamaica team-mate Drew Spence.

Shaw’s first was a header after Korpela’s save was recycled back into the box and her second, a confident penalty following Ashleigh Neville’s foul on Kelly.

The points were secured when Shaw, an imposing target, broke through two challenges and fired into the roof of the net for her 13th goal in the league this season.

Shaw, who had 11 shots in this game, five of them on target, moved three goals clear of Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly in the race to be top-scorer.