Two goals in the first four minutes helped Manchester City to a commanding first-leg win against Fiorentina in the Women’s Champions League last 16.
Lauren Hemp headed home Chloe Kelly’s cross inside the first 90 seconds after some fine build-up play.
Ellen White doubled the lead two minutes later as she blasted home a low Hemp cross in an inspired City start.
Sam Mewis’ header, from another Kelly cross, in the final minutes sealed an emphatic first-leg victory.
City will take their three-goal lead into the second leg in Florence next Thursday as they aim to make it out of the last 16 for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 2018.
Fiorentina came into the tie fifth in Serie A and were outclassed by the Women’s Super League high-fliers in the opening 30 minutes as City dominated chances and possession.
The Italians could have been four down rather than two inside the first 10 minutes had goalkeeper Katja Schroffenegger not been in excellent form as she produced a fine double save from Kelly and White before the latter put a glancing header over the bar.
Schroffenegger made another terrific stop from White midway through the first half while Hemp bundled a close-range chance wide from another excellent Kelly cross.
But City failed to recapture their first-half form after the break and it was Fiorentina who had a chance to pull a goal back five minutes after half-time when Scotland midfielder Lana Clelland’s pass put Frederikke Thogersen through on goal, but the Dane curled her shot wide.
Aside from that effort, however, Fiorentina rarely threatened and City’s late third on the break will make them confident of progressing to the quarter-finals next week.
