Mary Fowler's match-winning act for Manchester City amid special moment for Matildas teammate

Matildas fan favourite Mary Fowler has capped off an exceptional week after scoring the winning goal for Manchester City in a 3-2 defeat of Austrian club St Polten in the Women's Champions League. Fowler's Matildas teammate Alanna Kennedy also got on the scoresheet by rifling in a stunning opener inside the opening five minutes in Vienna to get the visitors off to the perfect start.

Kennedy's strike was a special milestone for the Matildas veteran, who had never previously scored for her club in Europe. But the defender opened her European account in devastating fashion after being teed up upside the box, before unleashing a thunderous 25-metre strike that shaved the outside of the post and went in - giving St Polten's goalkeeper no chance to save it.

The stunning opener prompted the Campbelltown-born defender to jog towards the sideline and imitate a 'phoning home' celebration as teammates raced in to congratulate her on the goal. Kennedy's strike was truly something worth calling home about and underlined her ability at both ends of the pitch, even if the towering defender's goals usually come via the head.

City would have been hoping the goal would help open the floodgates but they were given a rude awakening as the Austrian underdogs bounced back and took the game to their more fancied opponents. The home side's intent was soon rewarded as Melanie Brunnthaler levelled the scores before halftime, before Kamila Dubcova put the hosts ahead just after the break.

Mary Fowler emerges as Manchester City's match-winner

Staring down the barrel of a shock upset just one week after dispatching Barcelona in the same competition, City restored parity just before the hour mark when Japan international Aoba Fujino - like Kennedy - grabbed her first goal in City colours. With the game balanced on a knife's edge, it set the stage for Fowler to emerge as the saviour for her team.

With a tick over ten minutes of regular time remaining, City won a corner that England international Lauren Hemp delivered into the box with menace, hoping one of her teammates would get on the end of it. And it was Fowler that rose highest in a crowded penalty area to nod the ball into the back of the net for the match-winner after St Polten's goalkeeper mistimed her attempt to catch the ball.

The decisive goal capped off an outstanding performance which earned Fowler the player of the match award. And the late header ensured City claimed their sixth victory on the trot in what has been a brilliant start to the season. Fowler's boyfriend, Penrith NRL star Nathan Cleary, has been watching her from the stands, with City beating English rivals Liverpool 2-1 over the weekend and Spanish heavyweights Barcelona 2-0 in the Champions League seven days ago.

Calls for Mary Fowler to return to play in Australia

Fowler's heroics come after a push from Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher to get the Matildas superstar to come back and play in Australia, so she's closer to her boyfriend Cleary. The Panthers chief was addressing rumours that Cleary could be interested in a move to the Super League in England, which the star halfback has since rubbished.

The Matildas superstar spends the majority of her time in the UK and Europe but gets to spend very little time with Cleary during the NRL season when he's competing for the Panthers in Australia. Cleary has previously indicated he would be open to one day playing in England but is contracted to Penrith until the end of 2027 and Fletcher is keen to extend that even further. And the Panthers boss caused a stir last week after suggesting Football Australia should try and entice Fowler to come back home to play her football.

"It might be the other away around," Fletcher told Channel 7 after being asked about Cleary moving to England. "Mary will come back here I'd say to be closer to him." He also told Channel 9: "That's CEO of the football department Matt Cameron's job to bring her back here permanently."

"It was light-hearted. We've got Nathan and Ivan signed up till the end of '27 and it's our job – or my job – to try to extend that out as far as we can to keep them both at the foot of the mountains until their rugby league days are over," Fletcher told Sky Sports Radio's Big Sports Breakfast Weekend. "It'd take a lot of speculation out of it if she (Fowler) did come home, but that's between her and Nathan and we don't interfere in those matters."

with AAP