Manchester City came from behind twice to beat relegated Crystal Palace 5-2 in an entertaining final-day Women's Super League match at Joie Stadium.

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• Kerolin scores twice as City win 5-2
• Nick Cushing's side end season in fourth place
• Palace put up a fight against City but return to the Championship

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  It was a true tale of two halves on Saturday lunchtime. Ashleigh Weerden gave the visitors a shock early lead, with Kerolin equalising impressively before Mille Gejl gave bottom club Palace the ascendency once again. Nick Cushing made a double change at half-time, and substitute Jill Roord made a telling impact with another equaliser on 64 minutes. From then on there would only be one winner, Rebecca Knaak heading home from a corner before the outstanding Kerolin netted her second on the break. On another day she could've scored six, but it was centre-half Knaak who instead helped herself to a second from an Aoba Fujino corner as the match ended 5-2.

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  THE MVP

  Brazilian international Kerolin had all of 11 shots on goal during the match, forcing Shae Yanez into countless saves in the Palace goal. She will be disappointed not to have netted a hat-trick, but her two goals and endless threat played a big role in victory.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Neither side will be happy with where they have finished the season, with the Eagles relegated in their first WSL season while City miss out on Champions League qualification for next season.

  But the way Palace were dismantled in the second half and crumbled once going behind shows why they weren't able to avoid relegation. A strong first-half showing will give manager Leif Gunnar Smerud optimism for next year, when they will look to come back stronger and challenge for promotion once again.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  It will be a summer of transition for both clubs, with City looking to strengthen and improve if they are to challenge for Champions League qualification again next term. In a season which promised so much in the autumn, they ultimately fell short by a single point and goal difference this time around.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News