Miedema ready to move forward after goalscoring return for Man City in FA Cup tie following ‘frustrating’ injury spell
VIVIANNE MIEDEMA is relieved to be back in action and scoring for Manchester City after a “frustrating” three months out of action.
The prolific forward helped the Cityzens get their FA Cup charge motoring with a Sunday fourth-round win against Ipswich Town.
Her first goal since September sealed a 3-0 victory with the Netherlands star back in action for the first time since her knee operation in October.
A well-timed pass from Chloe Kelly was followed by Miedema’s bottom corner effort fired past Tractor Girls goalkeeper Natalia Negri.
The result saw Man City return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to Barcelona and Everton in Europe and the top-flight before Christmas.
The WSL record goalscorer and her team-mates will find out who they face in the contest’s fifth round with the draw taking place on Monday.
Miedema said: “Obviously it’s been a while and it’s been frustrating for me to have to sit out
“But I’ve come back in (and for the goal) Chloe played a really good ball into me, so I’m happy to start scoring again and hopefully I’ll stay fit now.
“It now feels like that’s the end of my rehab and I can move on.
“When you come back from injury, and especially for players like me, people expect you to score goals again, and I’m happy that I scored and I can move forward now.”
The last FA Cup encounter between City and Ipswich ended with the latter on the wrong end of a 10-0 thumping five years ago.
While all eyes were on Miedema, who started on the bench it was one of the hosts’ other Dutch stars who broke the deadlock.
Stand-in skipper Jill Roord struck in the 20th minute netting the Manchester giants first goal of this year.
The forward fired a low shot into the bottom corner beyond Tractor Girls keeper Natalia Negri after an assist from January signing Rebecca Knaak.
It was the only shot the hosts had on target in the first half despite dominating possession and keeping the visitors pinned back.
City, who handed starts to young trio Laura Blindkilde Brown, Gracie Prior and Lily Murphy, had chances to double their lead later in the half.
Blindkilde Brown fired an effort into the side netting before Murphy saw her 40th-minute shot fly over the crossbar.
The hosts cranked up the pressure in the second half with Laura Coombs tapping in after her flicked 54th-minute effort hit the crossbar.
Gareth Taylor’s triple substitution saw Miedema enter the fray with just under half an hour of normal time left.
She rounded off a comfortable shift for the Citizens with her first goal since September preceded by Kelly’s angled assist.
Miedema and her pals will be aiming for victory at the Etihad against Man United on January Sunday with the WSL returning to action following the winter break.
The Cityzens are chasing a first title win since 2016 and a first Champions League crown as well as both domestic cups.
Miedema added: “I’ve not always been there this year, and that’s sad.
“Hopefully in the next few weeks or months I can be part of the team a lot more and help the team.”