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Hemp’s Crucial Goal Highlights Manchester City’s Ambitions

Ellie Hemp’s timely equaliser during Manchester City’s match against Aston Villa on Sunday illustrated her quick reflexes and determination. After a mishap by the Villa goalkeeper, Sabrina D’Angelo, who struggled to handle a cross, Hemp displayed her awareness by reacting swiftly to the deflected ball. With a deft flick, she managed to lift the ball over D’Angelo and into the net, showcasing her sharp instincts on the pitch.

Reflecting on her performance, Hemp remarked, “We seem to keep doing it the hard way but we got three points in the end.” She went on to discuss the goal in detail, stating, “It was a good cross; she [D’Angelo] managed to get her hand to it, so I just tried to get anything on it, and it happened to come off my head. I knew the goalkeeper was off her line, so I just tried to kick it over her, and it managed to do the trick.”

Since joining Manchester City from Bristol City in 2018, Hemp has claimed the FA Cup and League Cup but is yet to experience the joy of winning a Women’s Super League (WSL) title—a goal City has pursued since last achieving it in 2016. Last season, City found themselves in a competitive race for the title, only to see Chelsea clinch victory on the final day.

“It was heartbreak for us last season when we didn’t manage to win the title,” Hemp admitted. Her aspirations for the current season remain high, emphasizing, “That’s one of our aims this season. Hopefully, if we keep putting in performances like that, who knows where we could go.”

As Hemp looks ahead, her focus shifts to the national team. The Lionesses are gearing up for friendly matches against Germany and South Africa in the coming weeks, serving as preparation for their title defence at next summer’s Euros. Hemp’s role with the national side has become increasingly significant; not only did she feature in all six qualifiers, but she has also maintained her form and fitness amidst challenges faced by her teammates.

During this international break, some key players will be missing. Lauren James will be absent due to injury, while her City teammate Chloe Kelly remains in the squad despite limited appearances this season. Additionally, Beth Mead has faced challenges at Arsenal, finding herself on the bench, and neither Alessia Russo nor Ella Toone has yet found the net in the league this season.

This may be the year for Ellie Hemp to shine, and if she continues her impressive form, Manchester City could very well be back in contention for the WSL title.

Source
www.bbc.com