Matildas star Mary Fowler has made her return to action in the Women’s Super League, on a day of huge celebration for Manchester City.
After nine-and-a-half months on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered in last season’s Women’s FA Cup semifinal, Fowler came on as a substitute in the 75th minute of City’s fabulous 5-1 victory over champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
She was left beaming as she made her return with her side coasting at 5-1. City’s two superstars Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw, who’d both scored earlier in the game, both embraced with the 22-year-old on the touchline as they were replaced in the 76th minute.
The home crowd also rose as one to celebrate on what proved a landmark day, with City handing the ailing champions one of their worst ever WSL defeats. It felt like a changing-of-the-guard moment, with Chelsea now looking sure to be dethroned after six successive titles.
Fowler, inevitably, had to shake off some rustiness during her cameo but slotted in to her centre forward role comfortably enough as City eased to a win that puts them 11 points clear of neighbours Manchester United and 12 clear of Chelsea.
The visitors brought Fowler’s Matildas captain Sam Kerr on early in the second half, but she proved largely ineffective with Chelsea already 3-0 down and being outclassed.
Their only consolation came from an Alyssa Thompson strike when they were 4-0 down.
The great news for Australia’s Women’s Asian Cup hopes is that both their key attacking threats should now be back in harness for the home tournament that begins on March 1 with a fixture against Philippines in Perth.
AAP
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