Inter Women 1-4 Manchester City Women: Fujino Brace Seals First UWCL Win

Manchester City Women finally have lift-off in this season's UEFA Women's Champions League. The Women's Super League champions came from behind to beat Inter Milan 4-1 in Varese on Tuesday night, earning their first victory of the league phase at the fourth attempt after three successive draws.

Aoba Fujino was the star of the show with two goals in the first half, turning the match around after the hosts had taken an early lead. Kerstin Casparij and Grace Clinton added further goals after the break to complete a convincing away win that lifts City up to seventh in the 18-team table.

A football resting on the pitch inside a stadium

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels. This is a stock illustration, not a photo from the match.

Inter strike first, then Fujino takes over

Inter made a bright start in front of their home crowd at the Felice Chinetti Stadium and were rewarded in the 24th minute, when Elisa Bartoli put the Italian side in front. It was the perfect opening for the hosts, who had already shown in this competition that they can be awkward opponents on their own turf.

City's response, however, was swift and ruthless. Fujino, the Japan international, levelled the scores and then struck again before half-time to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at the interval. Her two goals in quick succession completely changed the mood of the evening, silencing the home support and handing City control of a match they could not afford to lose.

It was exactly the kind of cutting edge City had been missing in their first three European outings this season. Three draws had left them stuck in mid-table, playing well in spells but unable to turn dominance into three points. In Varese, the finishing finally matched the build-up play.

City pull clear after the break

Any hope Inter had of fighting their way back into the contest faded after the restart. Casparij extended City's advantage, and Clinton then added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt. From that point on, the English side managed the game comfortably, keeping the ball and denying Inter the space to mount a comeback.

The 4-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the second half. City looked fitter, sharper and more confident as the match wore on, while Inter, who had started so brightly, ran out of ideas once they fell two goals behind. The home side's early promise counted for little by the final whistle.

For City, the win also ends a run of frustration. They had drawn all three of their opening league-phase matches, including a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in their previous outing, when a late equaliser denied them victory. This time there was no late twist — just a professional, commanding away performance.

What the result means for the table

The three points move Manchester City up to seventh in the league phase standings, right in the mix for the knockout places. With the league phase now at its midway point, the race for the top positions is tight: only three points separate fifth from 13th, so every win matters.

Barcelona still lead the way with a perfect record, while Bayern Munich climbed to second after their 2-1 win away at Paris Saint-Germain on the same night. Chelsea sit third, one point Barcelona, after being held to a goalless draw by BK Häcken in Sweden.

Inter, meanwhile, stay in the lower half of the table and will need a strong second half of the league phase to climb into contention. Their early goal against City showed what they are capable of, but they could not sustain that level for 90 minutes against one of the strongest squads in the competition.

Fujino's night to remember

Fujino's brace was the headline of the evening. The Japanese winger has been one of City's brightest players this season, and her two first-half finishes showed both composure and confidence. The first cancelled out Bartoli's opener; the second, arriving before the break, gave City a lead they never looked like giving up.

Her performance will encourage City's coaching staff, who have been waiting for their attacking players to find a ruthless streak in Europe. If Fujino can maintain this form, City have the firepower to trouble any defence left in the competition.

Elsewhere on Matchday 4

Tuesday's other results also shaped the table. Real Madrid beat Paris FC 3-0 in the Spanish capital, with three second-half goals earning them a first win of the league phase. Roma held on to beat Servette 2-1, while Chelsea were frustrated in Sweden, hitting the woodwork twice as Häcken goalkeeper Jennifer Falk produced an inspired display.

The action continues on Wednesday, when eight-time winners OL Lyonnes visit Juventus in Turin, and on Thursday, when Barcelona host Arsenal at Camp Nou in a repeat of last season's final. With the table so congested, those matches could shake up the standings once again.

What next for both sides

Manchester City will look to build on this win when the league phase resumes later in November, with a trip to BK Häcken next on their schedule. If they can repeat the ruthlessness they showed in Varese, a place in the knockout rounds looks well within reach.

Inter, on the other hand, must regroup quickly. They showed in the opening half hour that they can compete with the best, but the defeat underlines how unforgiving this competition can be when concentration slips. Their remaining fixtures now carry extra weight.

For City supporters, though, this was the night their European campaign finally caught fire. A first win, four goals, and a statement performance away from home — exactly what they had been waiting for.

Source: SuperSport — Chelsea frustrated by Hacken in women's Champions League, Man City win — https://supersport.com/football/news/439db996-611f-4138-8ba5-cdd4e77a3e8e/chelsea-frustrated-by-hacken-in-women-s-champions-league