Lucy Bronze goal secures league and cup double for Manchester City
Monday 3 October 2016 07:11, UK
A Lucy Bronze header in extra-time saw Manchester City beat Birmingham City 1-0 in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup final and secured a league and cup double.
Birmingham's game-plan against the FA WSL champions was to challenge them physically, and they survived plenty of pressure in the first-half, with Bronze looking dangerous down the left.
Blues goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was excellent throughout, showing bravery at the feet of the City onslaught and unafraid to come off her line to sweep up.
Her fingers were stung by a Toni Duggan strike from range in the last minute of normal time, but she held it well as she waited for referee Rebecca Welch's whistle.
Yet when Berger missed an extra-time corner Bronze was left clear at the back post to float the winning header past her and into an empty net.
City came close to doubling their lead when Tessel Middag's blistering shot scraped the inside of the post after Izzy Christiansen's excellent lay-off.
Birmingham may have felt they deserved a penalty when substitute Kosovare Asllani's firm shoulder knocked Jess Carter over in the area but it wasn't given.
Manchester City held on and lifted their second piece of silverware at the Academy Stadium in a week.
