Mary Fowler has a night to remember in Paris after the Matildas’ French Olympics disaster
- Fowler scores for Man City in Women’s Champions League
- Matildas had a shocking Olympic campaign in France
- Australian superstar is in top form for her club team
After a disastrous Olympic campaign with the Matildas, Mary Fowler finally showed her qualities in Paris with a stunning performance in the Women’s Champions League.
The 21-year-old Australian Manchester City side ignored the unexpected absence of one of their star players and defeated Paris FC 5-0 in the French capital on Wednesday night.
Fowler herself was responsible for the goal-fest shortly after the break, shooting the ball in after a shocking mistake by the keeper and thus having a golden opportunity to find the net.
Her goal, an easy win in the first leg of the second qualifying round, almost certainly means she and City will be playing on the main stage of the WCL, with next week’s home return leg now looking like a formality.
But for her Matildas team-mates at Arsenal, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord, who played a key role in the first leg defeat to Swedish side Hacken 1-0, the progression looks a lot tougher.
The talented Fowler and her international team-mates endured a shocking Olympic Games in Marseille and Nice. The 21-year-old will be hoping for a strong recovery for her powerful club, who narrowly missed out on Chelsea for the English title on the final day of the season.
She was given her chance to start up front after City’s superstar, Jamaican striker Khadija Shaw, failed to secure a visa for the first leg, reportedly due to a late application.
However, last season’s WSL top scorer was not missed, with Arsenal’s new signing Vivianne Miedema, often regarded as the WSL’s greatest ever player, scoring on her debut, while Jess Park scored twice in the whistle for City.
Mary Fowler got her name on the scoreboard as Manchester City beat Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League
Fowler (pictured with fellow footballer Esme Morgan) had a disappointing Olympics with the Matildas last month but has now finally shown the French what she is capable of
Fowler also scored himself, making a very simple tap-in for the third goal by robbing the hesitant keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and firing the ball into an empty net.
Chloe Kelly was City’s other scorer, while Paris FC’s Australian international midfielder Sarah Hunter was probably glad to be on the bench for the hammer. Alanna Kennedy did see five minutes of late action from the City bench, however.
Arsenal suffered a disappointing defeat in Sweden, but were thwarted by a strong defensive display, but victory was secured in the 77th minute by a goal from Tabitha Tindell.
That was a great pleasure for the team where Matilda Aivi also offers her services to Liège, but the 39-year-old did not play on Wednesday as she continues to plead her innocence after being suspended for three months for a doping offence.
Her international team-mates were also struggling to enjoy themselves, with Foord barely managing to score, just two weeks after netting four against Rangers in the first qualifying round.
