- The Guardian
Chloe Kelly shines as Manchester City take charge of last-16 tie with Fiorentina
Chloe Kelly shines as Manchester City take charge of last-16 tie with Fiorentina
- The Telegraph
Manchester City winger Chloe Kelly terrorises Fiorentina in convincing Champions League win
Manchester City 3 Fiorentina 0 Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said there is “no limit” to England winger Chloe Kelly’s potential, after her starring role in their impressive 3-0, first-leg victory over Fiorentina in the Women’s Champions League. Kelly, 23, frequently tormented the Italian visitors down the hosts’ right flank and provided two assists with teasing crosses to help put City on course for the quarter-finals. Praising Kelly, who joined City from Everton last summer, Taylor said: “From when she first came to us to where she is now, you’ve seen a big improvement, particularly in her decision-making. There’s still a lot of room for improvement but she’s very coachable, she wants to improve. I love her attitude. On the pitch she’s a street-fighter, she doesn’t get bullied off the ball. The fact she has that growth mindset, there’s no limit to where she can go.” Her threats were evident inside two minutes, as Kelly’s precisely-placed cross met Lauren Hemp’s attacking run into the box and 20-year-old Hemp headed home her eighth goal in nine club games. Moments later, Ellen White doubled the lead following a tremendous team move. Flowing, one-touch passing accelerated when Caroline Weir cut through the Italian side’s defence with a through ball to left-winger Hemp, whose low cross to the near post was flicked into the roof of the net by White with deadly style. At that stage, the tie looked set to be extremely one-sided. Kelly had an effort saved and then fired narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area, as City’s relentless start continued, before the visitors managed to compose themselves and they made it significantly harder for City to create chances thereon. Eventually, Kelly picked out substitute Sam Mewis in space at the far post for the United States midfielder to head in for 3-0 with a minute remaining, after a much quieter second half.
