Shaw gets first opportunity at silverware for Man City
Published:Saturday | February 5, 2022 | 12:07 AM
National striker Khadija Shaw will have her first opportunity at silverware for Manchester City in her debut season after helping her team to advance to the Continental Cup final.
Shaw, 24, scored in her fourth consecutive game for City as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their semi-final on Thursday at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. It was a win that came at the expense of eliminating her national teammate Rebecca Spencer who plays for Tottenham. Shaw scored her sixth goal in four games in the 27th minute, tapping home from close range to double the lead after Jess Park gave City the lead in the 21st minute. Lauren Hemp secured the victory in the 71st minute.
The win means that a Jamaican player is guaranteed to win the first piece of silverware for 2022 as Shaw will face her national teammate and Chelsea midfielder Drew Spence in the final after they defeated Manchester United 3-1 in their semi-final on Wednesday.
COMING INTO FORM
Shaw has been coming in to form since her recovery from COVID-19 and her return to the field. While she says that time was needed to properly adapt to the English game, the Reggae Girl said it was important for her not to rush the process.
“I knew that in the beginning, it was going to take time. I’ve always been a person to adapt and certain environments just take longer than others,” Shaw said on the club website
“I was patient with myself and knew that when the time came, it would click. I just had to keep it going.”
It has been a slow start to life in England since her move to Manchester City last summer. She scored three goals in her first three months as City struggled in the league and were knocked out of the Champions League. She now has nine goals in all competitions, fuelled by her recent scoring blitz and says that it is up to the team to keep the momentum going.
“The season didn’t start the way we wanted it to but we’re in a good place right now, Shaw said. “We just need to keep that momentum going because when it’s against you, it’s against you and when it’s with you, you just have to keep on pushing.”
The final is scheduled to take place on March 5 but before then, both teams will face each other in league play on Sunday. Shaw, Spence and Spencer are awaiting the announcement of the Reggae Girlz roster for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign which begins on February 17 against Bermuda.