City secure passage into Champions League group stage with professional Paris win

Manchester City secured passage into the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage following a 3-0 second round qualifying second leg victory over Paris FC.

Gareth Taylor’s side entered the fixture with a 5-0 advantage following our resounding victory in the French capital eight days before.

But there was still a job to do at the Joie Stadium and the hosts maintained our exceptional professionalism to record an 8-0 aggregate triumph which booked our place in the competition proper for the first time since 2020/21.

That was thanks to goals from Chloe Kelly and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw (two) on a crisp night at the Joie Stadium.

And the draw for the next phase of the prestigious competition takes place on Friday 27 September at 12:00 (UK).

WHAT HAPPENED

Ahead of the fixture Gareth Taylor reinforced that his side would treat the score line as if it was 0-0 despite our strong advantage heading into the deciding leg at the Joie Stadium.

And our professionalism was reflected inside two minutes when City’s relentless pressing paid dividends as Kelly intercepted Paris FC goakeeper’s Chiamaka Nnadozie’s pass out from the back to tap into an empty net.

The England international scored our fifth in the first leg to round off a wonderful display in the French capital and her venomous effort from the edge of the area less than 10 minutes later was matched by a strong save which sent the ball crashing off the post and across the face of goal.

Laura Blindkilde Brown was starting her first match of the season during the clash, and the impressive youngster was at the heart of a slick passing move when she showed great feet to skip past a challenge before teeing up Kelly who curled just over.

With the hosts possessing a commanding advantage, the intensity somewhat dipped alongside the temperature in Manchester as the wind swirled around the stadium.

But we all-but secured a place in the group stages with 15 minutes remaining of the first half when Blindkilde Brown fed a perfect pass into Kelly down the left who squared for Shaw to tap home.

On the cusp of the interval, Paris showed they still packed quality aplenty when a ball over the top found the feet of Clara Mateo, who unleashed a powerful effort towards goal but Khiara Keating produced a phenomenal save to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

We held our lead past the interval and with 30 minutes remaining, the sting had been taken out of the tie with the visitors prepared to sit deep and frustrate City attacks.

But Kelly continued to be a thorn in Paris' side and her ball into Bunny's feet saw the Jamaican win a penalty when she was brought down by Teninsoun Sissoko's challenge.

The clinical striker dusted herself off and drilled low into the bottom left corner - sealing her second of the evening.

The good news continued soon after when Gracie Prior came on for her first professional outing for the Club after penning a new contract in the summer.

She then helped us maintain a clean sheet alongside debutant Naomi Layzell as we expertly secured progression into the Champions League group stages.

City certainly deserve credit for how we handled the tie overall against a team who eliminated Wolfsburg and Arsenal in the qualifiers last term and all eyes are now on Friday's draw before our WSL meeting with Brighton on Sunday.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: CHLOE KELLY

The England international was at her skilful and scintillating best throughout the evening.

Kelly netted her second goal of the term and provided the crucial pass to Bunny which saw the Jamaican brought down for a penalty after assisting the striker's first.

And the winger led our relentless press tirelessly all night.

HOW WE LINED UP

Gareth Taylor made six changes from the team who started in our 2-2 draw with Arsenal in our previous assignment.

Khiara Keating was protected by a back four of Naomi Layzell, Alanna Kennedy, Alex Greenwood, Laia Aleixandri.

At the base of midfield was Yui Hasegawa with Jess Park and Laura Blindkilde Brown playing ahead of the Japan international.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw led the line either side of Mary Fowler and Chloe Kelly who operated on the wings.

City XI: Keating, Layzell, Kennedy, Greenwood (C) (Casparij 35'), Aleixandri (Prior 66'), Hasegawa (Coombs 46'), Park (Fujino 46'), Blindkilde Brown, Kelly, Shaw (Murphy 77'), Fowler.

Unused substitutes: Yamashita, Startup, Miedema, Hemp, Thomas, O’Carroll.

Paris FC: Nnadozie, Ould Hocine, Davis (Sissoko 46'), Greboval, Bogaert, Le Mouel (Hunter 83'), Corboz, Mateo (Garbino 46'), Thiney (Korosec 68'), Bussy, Bourdieu (Dufour 59').

Unused substitutes: Marques, N’Dongala, Flagellat, Mulot.

WHAT IT MEANS

The result at the Joie Stadium means we have reached the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time since 2020/21.

And the draw takes place on Friday 27 September at 12:00 (UK).

WHAT’S NEXT

City host Brighton & Hove Albion in our next assignment on Sunday 29 September.

The Barclays Women’s Super League match at the Joie Stadium kicks off at 12:30 (UK).