Manchester City secured their first Women’s Champions League victory of the season with a 4-1 win against Inter in Monza. Aoba Fujino scored twice, while Kerstin Casparij and Grace Clinton added second-half goals to complete the comeback.
A Rotated Squad and Strong Depth
Manager Andrée Jeglertz rested several key players with an upcoming domestic fixture against Chelsea in mind. Top-scorer Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw was left on the bench for the entire match, while Lauren Hemp and Yui Hasegawa started among the substitutes before entering the game in the second half.
Grace Clinton told Disney+ that the performance highlighted the team’s depth and talent, noting that many players can step in, score, and contribute effectively.
Overcoming an Early Deficit
Inter took the lead against the run of play when Elisa Bartoli headed in a precise cross from Ivana Andrés. Despite facing a strong Inter defense, Manchester City maintained their patience.
Fujino equalized by timing her run to receive a defense-splitting through ball from Laura Blindkilde Brown. Just a minute before halftime, Fujino scored her second from close range on the rebound after a shot by Mary Fowler was only partially cleared.
Securing the Victory
After the interval, goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita made a crucial fingertip save to deny a bending effort from Inter’s Haley Bugeja. Manchester City capitalized on strong midfield performances from Blindkilde Brown and Sam Coffey.
Coffey provided a clever pass into the box for Casparij, who finished neatly into the corner to extend the lead to two goals. Hemp later delivered a cross to the far post, allowing Clinton to convert from a tight angle for the fourth goal.
Yamashita produced another exceptional reaction save to stop a close-range shot from Michela Cambiaghi as Inter pressed late in the game. Casparij stated that the team performed phenomenally despite the heavy squad rotation, providing momentum ahead of their upcoming match.
