Asisat Oshoala was bursting with pride after scoring her first Liverpool goal to help the FA Women’s Super League 1 champions bounce back to winning ways against Birmingham.
Nigeria international Oshoala volleyed in on the stroke of half-time before setting up Fara Williams for Liverpool’s second, with Aoife Mannion’s late strike not enough for the visitors.
And Oshoala, last year’s African Player of the Year, admits she is fulfilling a dream turning out for the Reds after signing in the winter.
Liverpool 2-1 Birmingham
The FA WSL
Select Security Stadium
Wednesday 1 April 2015
“I feel very happy and excited about the goal and the victory for the team,” she said. “It was a great atmosphere, the support from the fans was extraordinary.
“It’s very nice for me hearing them singing my name. It’s a crazy atmosphere. I have never seen supporters like this and I have been playing football for quite a long time now.
“The supporters here are awesome, they are great people. Playing for Liverpool Ladies is a dream come true.
“It’s been a difficult start to the season but I believed we would bounce back. We showed the spirit here is very high, and we are really giving everything.”
Liverpool were the better team before the break and Kate Longhurst thought she had scored on 32 minutes with a crisp volley but the goal was ruled out for an earlier foul.
Liverpool's Kate Longhurst fires a shot on goal
Oshoala did break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time though, her side-footed volley from Gemma Bonner’s long cross arrowed into the top corner.
Williams doubled the lead on 72 minutes, arriving late in the box to powerfully fire in first time from Oshoala’s low cross.
Mannion gave Birmingham hope on 81 minutes, out-muscling goalkeeper Libby Stout to keep the ball in play before slotting in from a tight angle, but Liverpool stood firm.
And Birmingham boss David Parker admitted the visitors only had themselves to blame for the defeat.
Liverpool's Line Smorsgard battles with Alex Windell of Birmingham
“The first goal is always crucial now, and giving them the goal at such a crucial time was poor game management,” he said.
“We should never have allowed them that opportunity. We should have got into half-time at nil-nil and take it from there.
“It’s the things we absolutely preach to the players, and that’s what makes it most frustrating.
“They are our basics as a football club, we play in a certain way, and the players have not done the opposite to that at times and got themselves into trouble as a result.”
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