Mary Fowler kicks off Manchester City season with opening goal

Australian Mary Fowler has initiated Manchester City's Women's Super League season with an opening goal. Accompanying her strike, Bunny Shaw netted a second goal as the defending champions triumphed over Birmingham City 3-1. The match took place on October 9th, with Fowler and the Matildas set to play a friendly against Germany on October 10th in Karlsruhe.

Shaw was named the player of the match for her brace, but Fowler was instrumental in setting the tone for the reigning champions with her decisive first-time strike. Following a goalless half, Fowler capitalized on a deflected cross from down the right wing, which was eventually put away by Laura Blindkilde Brown after a series of failed clearances.

Her 49th-minute goal was swiftly followed by Shaw's first, as the Manchester City star nodded home a well-struck corner from Kerstin Casparij. Shaw repeated the feat in the dying moments of the match, while Birmingham's Oceane Hurtre scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute. The club's management emphasized the importance of securing a win to start the campaign on the right foot and highlighted the need to maintain their momentum going forward.