The Matildas may be under serious pressure, but star striker Mary Fowler is living her best life in the UK with a starring performance for Manchester City and a new look to boot.
Fowler shone again for Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup, creating their first goal with a delicious pass in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa that’s now set up a blockbuster derby semi-final with Manchester United.
While the Matildas still seem to be struggling to find a way to get the best out of the gifted 22-year-old, City are having no such problems as Fowler just keeps blossoming as one of their key playmakers and scorers, adding another player-of-the-match award to her name on Sunday.
It was Fowler’s vision and deft weight of pass that broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute as she threaded a superb ball through to City’s deadly Jamaican striker Khadija Shaw, who latched on to expertly steer the ball underneath the advancing Villa keeper.
Fowler celebrated the victory by getting a new hair makeover, posting images and video to social media.
‘Feeling cute. Thanks to the lovely @prescila_furtado,’ she posted on Instagram.
Mary Fowler showed off her new look after getting a makeover following her big weekend for Manchester City
Fowler received plenty of compliments for her new look, including attention from her NRL star boyfriend Nathan Cleary
The post was predictably liked by her high profile boyfriend Nathan Cleary while a host of football fans loved the new look as well.
‘Girls with curly hair rule the world,’ one posted.
‘Please stop Mary you are becoming too powerful,’ added another.
‘Gorgeous just gorgeous,’ posted yet another.
A nominee as Women’s Super League’s player of the month in February, Fowler delivered a similar killer ball early in the first half which Shaw perhaps should also have converted.
Ultimately, City relied on Jess Park sealing their fairly comfortable passage in the 72nd minute with a second goal.
The interest then all centred on who City might be paired with in the semis, and the draw on Sunday evening has thrown up a home clash with their neighbours United, the defending champions, on April 13.
The other last-four contest the same day brings together Chelsea, who beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at their Kingsmeadow home, against Liverpool, who earned the shock of the weekend with their 1-0 win at Arsenal.
While Fowler has struggled in the current Matildas setup, she has thrived for Manchester City
Arsenal’s trio of Matildas – Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord – all started on what proved a miserable afternoon for the Gunners at their Borehamwood base, as the visitors reached the semi-finals for the first time in eight years.
Catley came closest for Arsenal with a shot that whistled narrowly wide but Liverpool sneaked the win in the 78th minute in bizarre fashion as a shot from Sophie Roman Haug struck a post and then hit the back of the diving goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, before nestling in the net for an own goal.
Matildas’ keeper Teagan Micah had to watch her side’s win unfold from the bench, as she’s lost her place to Rachael Laws, and it won’t be easy for her to claw her spot back after the Liverpool stopper became only the second this year to prevent Arsenal from scoring.
At Chelsea, Palace were constantly under the cosh before a second-half Lauren James strike finally secured unbeaten Chelsea a 25th win in 27 games this season and kept them still believing they can pull off an historic quadruple of WSL, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League crowns.
They’re not firing as they did earlier in the season, though, as they await the return of ace striker Sam Kerr after her long absence through injury.
