A 2-1 win over Barcelona on Wednesday afternoon was not enough for Manchester City to turn around a 3-0 deficit in the first stage, as Gareth Taylor’s side crashed out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals.
City came out with great intent and drove back their visitors from the start and finally struck the deadlock in the 20th minute. An Alex Greenwood corner is led down by Sam Mewis, only for Janine Beckie to convert the distortion.
A lifeline for @ManCityWomen! ?
Janine Beckie gets the final touches on Alex Greenwood’s delivery?
A crucial goal as they reduce the deficit against Barcelona. # UWCL pic.twitter.com/Whu37at0ea
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 31, 2021
Citizens continued their search for goals after the interval, but Las Blaugranes lowered their hopes with a 59th minute equalizer. Caroline Graham Hansen tightened the ball in the area and pulled back nicely for Asisat Oshoala to tap on an open net.
City pulled up again just nine minutes later from the spot. Ellen White was clean through on goal before Leila Ouahabi took her down, and Sam Mewis calmly converted the ensuing penalty to Sandra Panos’ bottom corner.
However, Las Blaugranes held on to their overall 4-2 lead to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League for women. Now, let’s get to the player’s rating …
What a block from @LucyBronze! ❌?
? 1-0 ⚫️ (1-3) #ManCity | https://t.co/HkTzfLv0HJ pic.twitter.com/3kNCOYInfK
– Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 31, 2021
Eliie Roebuck (GK) – 8/10 – Made several brilliant stops and rushed out to quell attacks from Barca’s front line on several occasions – another fantastic excursion.Lucy Bronze (RB) – 7/10 – Not one, but two, goal line blocks in the first half. Heroic in defense but overwhelming in the future.Abby Dahlkemper (CB) – 6/10 – Caught out a couple of times by the runs behind, but overall it was stuck in the heart of the defense.Alex Greenwood (CB) – 7/10 – A real threat when you take regular matches and place in a good corner for the opener. Timed her tackles really well and denied Barca on a few occasions.
Esme Morgan (LB) – 5/10 – Composed on the ball and made a couple of ball recoveries but overall it was pretty quiet for Morgan.
Rose Lavelle worked hard in midfield Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Rose Lavelle (CM) – 8/10 – The driving force on the city side. Everything went through the Americans as she broke through the lines with ease all the time. A brilliant football player.
Keira Walsh (CM) – 7/10 – A stone in midfield and was excellent in screening the four backs. Went fantastically well to play past the lines and get the ball forward as well.
Sam Mewis (CM) – 6/10 – Efficient on the ball and got his side up on the field well. Created the opening goal with a good nod back into the risk area.
Janine Janine?
? 1-0 ⚫️ (1-3) #ManCity | https://t.co/HkTzfLv0HJ pic.twitter.com/lo6abXqWoz
– Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 31, 2021
Chloe Kelly (RW) – 6/10 – A real threat when she got on the ball and was excellent when she drove towards her opponent, but it just was not enough.
Ellen White (ST) – 6/10 – Was not at her clinical best but did well to wait for the contact to win the penalty in the second half. Janine Beckie (LW) – 6/10 – Went well to get his first Champions League goal of the season but was sometimes a bit rash with his decisions in the last third.
72. CITY SUBS | Double change for City:
? @ ellsbells89 makes room for @StanwayGeorgia? @LucyBronze is replaced by @itscarolineweir
? 2-1 ⚫️ (2-4) #ManCity | https://t.co/HkTzfLv0HJ pic.twitter.com/j3mBA8Vnoj
– Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 31, 2021
Caroline Weir (LW) – 5/10
Georgia Stanway (ST) – 5/10
Laura Coombs (CM) – Not applicable
Jess Park (RW) – N / A
Marta Torrejon was stoic on right-back Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Sandra Panos (GK) – 6/10 – Stuck between the sticks and could not do much other than about the goals.Marta Torrejon (RB) – 8/10 – Really strong at times, makes several important tackles and clearances in dangerous positions.Andrea Pereira (CB) – 6/10 – Was solid and composed for the most part and handled White quite well – no bad performance.
Mapi Leon (CB) – 6/10 – Went well when she was in possession to find her midfield and attack colleagues past the press.Leila Ouahabi (LB) – 4/10 – Really struggled to limit City’s right wing and could not come forward to deliver quality. Somehow did not look red after taking down White when she was on target.
Barcelona has its goal! ⚽️
The visitors have threatened and finally Asisat Oshoala finds the breakthrough.
Manchester City has a mountain to climb to reach the semi-finals! #UWCL pic.twitter.com/2Harl4XrsS
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 31, 2021
Aitana Bonmati (CM) – 6/10 – Could not get into the match as much as she had wanted, but managed to make some decent passes to split the opposition sometimes.
Patri Guijarro (CM) – 8/10 – Let deep, study gaps and spread the ball really well. Be integrated into the equalizer when she pressed to win the ball back on the edge of the box.Alexia Putellas (CM) – 6/10 – Wandered quite freely and managed to stifle some city movements and start some Barca movements but was generally not so involved in procedures.
SEE MEREIXIA EL BARÇA! SE’L MEREIXIA @AsisatOshoala! ESTEL.LAR @CarolineGrahamH (1-1) # ManchesterCityBarça pic.twitter.com/EX3iw1qglD
– FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) 31 March 2021
Caroline Graham Hansen (RW) – 7/10 – Showed his class on the ball and took the assist for Barca’s equalizer.
Asisat Oshoala (ST) – 7/10 – Caught too often for offside and wasted several opportunities, but eventually found the net in his 19th season.Mariona Caldentey (LW) – 5/10 – Nice and fluent with her game but was quite wasteful in possession, without producing any real quality.
➡ @ liekemartens1
⬅ @CarolineGrahamH
(1-1, min 61) # ManchesterCityBarça
– FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) 31 March 2021
Lieke Martens (RW) – 6/10
Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (CB) – Not applicable
Vicky Losada (CM) – N / A
Jana Fernandez (CB) – N / A
Bruna Vilamala (RW) – N / A
