City remain unbeaten in the Women’s Champions League after Bunny Shaw earned a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on a night of late drama at the City Football Academy.
Linda Caicedo gave the visitors the lead after 29 minutes before Shaw responded six minutes into the second half. Real Madrid then thought they had won it through Silvia Cristobal in the 89th minute, only for referee Silvia Gasperotti’s whistle to rule out the goal in unusual circumstances.
The result leaves Man City with two points from their opening two league-phase matches, following last week’s 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich.
Shaw responds after Caicedo gives Real Madrid lead
City almost made the perfect start when Alex Greenwood’s free-kick found Mary Fowler after ten minutes, but her header came back off the crossbar.
Real Madrid threatened at the other end and Ayaka Yamashita was required to make an important save from Felicia Schroder in the 21st minute.
The visitors broke through eight minutes later. Caicedo got around Laura Blindkilde Brown before advancing into the penalty area and finding the far corner, with City captain Greenwood unable to prevent the Colombian from getting her shot away.
City searched for a response before half-time, with Shaw holding the ball up inside the Madrid penalty area and teeing up Yui Hasegawa. Her powerful effort was headed away by Maelle Lakrar.
Andree Jeglertz’s side emerged with far greater purpose after the interval and were level in the 51st minute.
Hasegawa won possession in midfield before Shaw finished sharply across goalkeeper Merle Frohms. It continued a memorable year for the Jamaica international following her FWA award success and new contract announcement earlier this year.
Shaw might have added another when Lauren Hemp crossed from the left, but her header went over. Hasegawa also volleyed wide from a Greenwood corner as City looked for a second.
Madrid remained dangerous, though, and Yamashita produced another important stop to deny substitute Irune Dorado with 13 minutes remaining.
Real Madrid denied bizarre late winner
The biggest moment arrived in the 89th minute.
Cristobal produced an excellent finish into the top corner and initially appeared to have given Real Madrid all three points. Gasperotti, however, had already blown her whistle after inadvertently blocking Beth Mead as the City substitute attempted to reach the ball.
With play already stopped before Cristobal’s shot crossed the line, the effort could not stand.
Real Madrid’s players and coaching staff protested against the decision, but there was no route for the goal to be awarded once the referee had blown her whistle.
It ensured City escaped the late scare with their second draw from two Women’s Champions League matches.
Shaw acknowledged afterwards that City’s first-half performance had left them with work to do.
“Disappointed”
“We started the second half much better than how we started the first half and that’s something we’re going to look on as a team,” she told Disney+.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win the game but definitely [showed] fight at the end and that’s good as well.”
City now have a lengthy gap before their next European fixture, with Paris Saint-Germain visiting on 29 October.
Before then, attention returns to the Women’s Super League and a home meeting with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Full match details and the late refereeing incident can be found in the Sky Sports report.
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