Khadija Shaw explained in detail how her derby goal against Manchester United left Lionesses star Mary Earps red-faced.
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Man City beat United 3-1 at Old Trafford in NovemberShaw struck the third to complete the comebackEarps was bamboozled after Shaw made her payGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Shaw silenced a 43,615-crowd at Old Trafford last November after she dealt a mortal blow to United's hopes of making a comeback with a strike that would stay with her forever. After Katie Zelem put the hosts in front, City mounted a spirited comeback with Jill Roord and Lauren Hemp scoring in quick succession. But it was Shaw's persistent pressing that put both Maya Le Tissier and Earps to shame as City claimed the bragging rights in front of a hostile crowd.
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In an interview with Shaw narrated the incident in detail.
“I’ll walk you through it," she began. "I just thought I’m gonna go for it (as she closed down Le Tissier). If it was me, I would have played the ball back first time but she (Le Tissier) takes a touch. It’s under her feet and then she plays a softer pass.
"I don’t see Mary yet. As I’m running on, I see her. I’m closer to the ball than her and she’s running straight onto it….So I’m not going to jump, I’m just gonna leave a leg…I was like, ‘Yesss!!!”
Immediately after the goal, the camera caught Earps' reaction as she went, "What the f***?”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
During the pre-match warmup, United fans handed a tough time to Shaw and Co. After the goal, it was payback time as she showed her dance moves to a frustrated crowd.
“We warmed up in that corner and the fans were giving us pure stick,” says Shaw. “Chloe (Kelly) said: ‘I love this!’ So when I scored I went over there and I was like, ‘OK, what are you gonna say now?’”
GettyWHAT NEXT?
The two-century-old rivals will reignite hostility on Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium in the reverse fixture. City can't afford to slip up as they are locked in an intense championship battle with holders Chelsea at the top. Meanwhile, United would look to close the gap with third-placed Arsenal by clinching a victory.