Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored a superb first half hat-trick as Manchester City inched closer to the Women’s Super League (WSL) title with a 5-2 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur here on Saturday.
The Jamaican international found the back of the net in the eighth, 18th and 21st minutes, making it the fastest hat-trick in WSL history and her fourth successive one against Tottenham at home in the league.
It also extended Shaw’s lead as the top goalscorer, carrying her tally for the season to 18 goals from 18 WSL matches.
Goals from Brazilian Kerolin in the 37th minute and a 45th minute own goal, then helped City secure a comfortable victory.
All three of Shaw’s goals were headers as Tottenham could not handle City’s set-pieces and were easily beaten in the air.
Tottenham drew level after Shaw’s first strike, when Olivia Holdt snuck in behind City’s backline to make it 1-1 in the 15th minute, before Shaw reestablished City’s lead three minutes later.
Kerolin scooped in Lauren Hemp’s pull-back and City had five goals before half-time when Amanda Nilden deflected Vivianne Miedema’s header into her own net.
With the win, City moved eight points clear at the top of the WSL table to 46 points from 18 matches, with Manchester United second on 38 points and defending champions Chelsea third on 37 points.
Arsenal are fourth on 35 points but have two games in hand. (CMC)
