St Polten 2-3 Manchester City: Mary Fowler’s late goal secures victory in Women’s Champions League

Mary Fowler scored a late winner as Manchester City survived a scare to beat Austrians St Polten in the Women’s Champions League.

Visitors City had started their European campaign with a hugely impressive 2-0 win against defending champions Barcelona, but they were made to work for these three points in Group D by spirited opponents.

Alanna Kennedy had given Manchester City the lead with a stunning strike in the fifth minute, driving in an unstoppable effort off the inside of the post from 25 yards.

A second looked to be a matter of time as they created a number of chances and hit the woodwork through Chloe Kelly.

But St Polten had shown flashes of decent attacks and they equalised just before the break when Manchester City failed to deal with a corner and Melanie Brunnthaler fired in from close range.

Half-time offered the visitors a chance to regroup but they were stunned early in the second half as Kamila Dubcova’s neat finish put St Polten ahead.

But the lead lasted barely five minutes as Aoba Fujino calmly slotted in her first goal for Manchester City.

Fowler then ensured the visitors took all three points when she nodded home following a corner late on.

“I’m just really pleased to get the three points,” said City boss Gareth Taylor after the game.

“I think it was a bit of a lesson learned. When you play teams like Polten who people expect to be an easy three points, these games certainly aren’t.

“Six points out of the two games is a really good start for us.”

Elsewhere in Group D, Barcelona bounced back in style from their defeat by City last week as they beat Hammarby 9-0.