Nick Cushing was full of praise for Vivianne Miedema after seeing his gamble pay off with her scoring a brace in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
While City had Khadija Shaw and Aoba Fujino unavailable due to injury, interim boss Cushing opted to start with Miedema on the bench for the clash at the Joie Stadium.
Having subsequently been brought on for the start of the second half, the Netherlands international then put City in front on the hour mark, rifling in the rebound when Hannah Hampton tipped Laia Aleixandri’s header against the crossbar, and added a second finish with two minutes of normal time remaining.
✨ Game changer ✨ pic.twitter.com/wDbVXPjH7F
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 19, 2025
Cushing said: “Viv starting on the bench tonight and coming off it is a bit of a gamble.
“But I knew Viv would be able to come for 45 and be a huge presence in the game, and you can see that with the result.
“I’m sure you can imagine what she said when I didn’t name her in the team. I expected it, I expect that from every world-class player when you don’t put them in. But the defining factor in what makes a real top player I think is what happens when you go on.
“Ten minutes before, I said ‘you’ll go in at half-time’, and I knew that before the game, (I said) ‘you’re going in to be the difference in a tight game’. To be able to do that, even though you wanted to play all the way through, I think shows her level.
“I was confident if she got chances she’d score, she is a top-level finisher. She’s frustrated because she thinks she should have had a hat-trick!”
The match was the second of four successive meetings between the sides, which started with Chelsea’s 2-1 triumph on Saturday in the League Cup final at Pride Park, continues with Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash at the Etihad Stadium, and concludes with next Thursday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
What a performance! 🩵
You can watch @ManCityWomen take on Chelsea again at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 🙌
Get your tickets 🎟️👇
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 19, 2025
Cushing returned to City ahead of the quartet of fixtures, being given the interim role until the end of the season after Gareth Taylor was sacked.
And the 40-year-old, whose first spell in charge ended in 2020, said: “It’s crazy to think my last game (at the stadium) was the Arsenal game in 2019, it’s the first time I’ve been back since then.
“It was important for me tonight that the team put a performance in that I believe reflects us in this stadium, and I really wanted to win the game for the fans.”
For Chelsea, who hit the bar in the 80th minute via substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, the result was a first defeat of the season. It ended an unbeaten run of 28 games since boss Sonia Bompastor took charge last summer – of which 26 were wins – and 31 matches in total.
Bompastor said: “I think we didn’t start to play from the beginning of the game. I think also we didn’t play with the desire we needed in the first half.
“The desire is sometimes the most important, the energy and making sure everyone is making all the effort for each other. I think maybe we were a little bit sloppy in that aspect.
“We only lost one game in the season, a big one, an important one, it happens, but now we need to stay positive.”
Chris Wilder labelled his side’s 2-0 win over Stoke a “proper away performance” as they got back to winning ways.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.An improved showing saw Sam McCallum, making just his eighth start of the campaign, score late in the first hal...

Goals from Sam McCallum and Andre Brooks ensured Sheffield United returned to winning ways with by beating Stoke 2-0.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.McCallum had scored just one goal since his summer move from Norwich but popped up at the back post when Rhian Brewster&rsquo...

Partick Thistle stunned title-chasing Falkirk as Terry Ablade secured a dramatic 2-1 William Hill Championship victory in the eighth minute of stoppage time.Thistle were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes as Stuart Bannigan’s late challenge on Dylan Tait earned the midfielder a second yellow card.The hosts had taken a sixth-minute lead through interim manager Brian Graham’s 19th goal o...

Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Then & Now This Klopp seeing Slot can win the league with 80 points whilst he finished 2nd with 97 No, I won't. Real Madrid released a statement protesting the referee selection for Saturday's Copa del Rey final. Run Forest, run! In comparison Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, Bleache...

WHAT HAPPENED?The Sun has reported Arsenal are ready to make a significant move to bolster their defence with a bid for the Barcelona defender, who has played a crucial role in the Blaugrana's push to win the treble this season.THE BIGGER PICTUREKounde is under contract until 2027 and has established himself as a key part of the Barcelona defence. He has played 51 times in all competitions this se...

Paris Saint-Germain gave serious thought to signing Christopher Nkunku during the winter transfer window but ultimately chose not to move forward. Although he remained at Chelsea, signs now point to a possible departure this summer.Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023 for £52 million, but injuries and competition have kept him from locking down a regular spot in the starting lineup, ...

Ruben Amorim has said he is convinced that Manchester United can land their summer targets even after a disastrous season which could end in failure to qualify for European competition.United's hopes of reaching the Champions League rest on winning the Europa League. Even if they lift the trophy, Amorim's team remain on course for their lowest Premier League finish.The Portuguese coach is plotting...

Rashford urged to move to Newcastle by WrightIan Wright believes Newcastle United would be an ideal club for Marcus Rashford with his future at Manchester United in doubt.Wright told the Ringer FC podcast of a possible deal for Rashford: "It's the kind of signing Newcastle should be making. That would be amazing. That would be dangerous. Rashford at Newcastle? Yeah. That would be really good. I re...

Birmingham boss Chris Davies says the Blues should be very proud of breaking the 100-point barrier.Alex Cochrane’s winner after 75 minutes was hit from 30 yards and was perfectly-placed to find the corner and hand City a 1-0 win at Stevenage.And it takes them onto 102 points with three games remaining.“I’m very proud,” said the Birmingham boss. “Not many teams will ge...

Alex Cochrane’s superb long-range strike was enough to take League One champions Birmingham over the 100-point mark with a 1-0 win at Stevenage.The game was the perfect example of a clash of styles, Birmingham wanting to play it around, but Stevenage aiming to outwork them.Boro arguably would have been happier with their first-half showing, Jordan Roberts pulling a low shot wide of the targe...



- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest
- 10 Liverpool join race to sign attacker Jeremy Monga