Matildas Abroad Review: Raso scores in back-to-back Conti Cup games for City

Hayley Raso made it goals in back-to-back Conti Cup games for Manchester City to help the defending champions to a 3-0 win, while Everton, Aston Villa and West Ham all picked up wins in the group stage. 

Read our wrap of all the action!

Journey to 2023 - Thin Banner NEW

England

Kicking off with Clare Wheeler's Everton, the Toffees collected a 3-0 win over Sheffield United, recording their first win of the group stage. 


Both sides went into the break locked at 0-0, however, the home side came out of the break firing and going in front thanks to Katja Snoeijs. Late goals to Hanna Bennison and Jess Park sealed the win, with Wheeler playing the whole game for Everton. 

In Manchester, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy's Manchester City made it back-to-back wins as the defending champions beat Sunderland 3-0. 

Fowler and Raso both made the start for the home side, while Kennedy made her first appearance on the bench since returning from a shoulder injury.

Manchester City's Hayley Raso celebrates with her teammates after making it 2-0 during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup match between Manchester City Women and Sunderland Ladies at Manchester City Academy Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Hayley Raso celebrates with her teammates after making it 2-0 during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup match between Manchester City Women and Sunderland Ladies at Manchester City Academy Stadium on November 27, 2022, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

City took the lead just 8 minutes into the encounter, with Julie Blakstad finding the back of the net from a corner. Raso doubled the home side's lead just after the break, making it goals in back-to-back Conti Cup games for the forward. 

Khadija Shaw sealed all three points with City's third of the game soon after. Kennedy came off the bench in the 76th minute to see out the win, while Raso and Fowler played the whole game. Raso was voted POTM in the win. 

 

Meanwhile, Mackenzie Arnold's West Ham United moved to the top of Group C after a 2-0 win over Birmingham City.

Arnold kept a clean sheet in goal for the Hammers, with Kate Longhurst and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir finding the back of the net to seal the win. 

Lastly, Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa grabbed a late win over Durham in their third game of the Conti Cup group stage, with a 75th-minute goal from Rachel Daly helping the Villans to stay at the top of the table. 

Gielnik remained on the bench in the game. 

France

Over in Paris, Lydia Williams' Paris Saint-Germain made it seven D1 wins this season, with a narrow 1-0 win over last-placed Guingamp. 

Kadidiatou Diani sealed the win in the 30th minute for PSG, with Williams not appearing in the matchday squad for the win. 

Denmark

Our last stop takes us to Denmark, where Matilda McNamara's AGF went down fighting 2-0 to ladder leader HB Køge.

McNamara played the whole game in defence for AGF, helping her side go into the break locked at 0-0. 

HB Køge found the back of the net early in the second half through Zhao Yujie, before Mie Leth Jans doubled their advantage with 20 minutes left to go.