MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 3, FC ROSENGARD 1
Kosovare Asllani hits the bar early
Isobel Christiansen opens the scoring from Jane Ross’ cross
Toni Duggan makes it 2-0 early in second half
Alexandra Lowe Riley cuts the deficit
Ross has a shot blocked on the line by Emma Berglund
Steph Houghton restores City’s 2 goal lead with a header from Christiansen’s free kick
Goals by Isobel Christiansen, Toni Duggan and Steph Houghton sealed a comfortable victory for Manchester City Women in their first pre-season friendly of 2016 against FC Rosengard of Sweden watched by an impressive crowd of 1,027 at the Manchester City Football Academy Stadium.
Toni Duggan had already blazed shots wide of the mark with early attempts before her corner found new signing Kosovare Asllani at the back post but she struck the bar with her 11th minute effort from nine yards out.
City’s other new signing – striker, Jane Ross – occupied Rosengard’s defenders throughout but turned provider and sent in a fine cross from the right which fell for Isobel Christiansen at the back post which she controlled and fired past Zecira Musovic on 22 minutes.
Captain Steph Houghton forced a pair of saves from Musovic with a brace of free kicks before Karen Bardsley finally had some work to do in injury time at the end of he first half, as she dived to turn a shot by Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir round the post.
City made three changes at the break, and Nikita Parris tore down the right wing before crossing for Toni Duggan to score a deserved goal after 47 minutes.
FC Rosengard pulled one back ten minutes later when Alexandra Lowe Riley reacted first after a shot by Lieke Martens deflected off Steph Houghton.
City could have restored their two goal cushion on 63 minutes when Parris’ shot was blocked but Ross fired in the rebound only to be denied a goal when Rosengard captain Emma Berglund raced back to clear her shot off the line.
City’s player of the match Houghton did restore their two goal winning margin on 70 minutes when she headed Christiansen’s free kick past Musovic from six yards out, a lead that they comfortably saw out with few problems.