Mary Fowler's stunning display as Matildas star shines on global stage amid Nathan Cleary situation

The Aussie football star put on a scintillating performance in Manchester City's loss to Manchester United.

Mary Fowler continues to put her best foot forward in the UK with club team Manchester City after being forced to farewell boyfriend Nathan Cleary and leave him behind in Australia. City suffered a crushing loss to Manchester United in the Women's Super League on Sunday night, but Fowler was sensational and produced two sublime goal assists.

United scored a 4-2 win over their cross-town rivals at Etihad Stadium, but a wonderful display from Matildas star Fowler almost dragged City back into the game. Fowler provided assists for City's two goals and a brilliant flick in the dying stages forced a great save from American keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary.
Mary Fowler (L) is back in the UK playing for Manchester City, while Nathan Cleary (R) is back in Australia preparing for the new NRL season.

Ultimately, Fowler and City couldn't recover from two woeful errors by 20-year-old keeper Khiara Keating that helped United get the points and leapfrog City into third place in the WSL on 24 points. Trying to play out from the back, Keating gifted two goals to Ella Toone, who went on to complete a hat-trick.

ADVERTISEMENT

With City down 3-0, 21-year-old Fowler dragged them back in the 40th minute with a terrific right-footed curling cross that picked out Vivianne Miedema in the middle, who scored with a header. In first-half stoppage time, Fowler produced the goods again with a left-footed in-swinging corner that was headed home by City's new German defender Rebecca Knaak.

However Fowler's good work was undone straight after the break when Keating's heavy touch outside the box enabled Toone to finish off her treble. City's loss means an Arsenal side featuring three Matildas players Kyra Cooney-Cross, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord cashed in to move up to second in the standings with a 5-0 win at home to Crystal Palace.

Foord was brought down in the box in the 75th minute, enabling Mariona Caldentey to score the first of her two late goals from the spot. But Arsenal and everyone else is chasing champions Chelsea, who crushed the Katrina Gorry-captained West Ham 5-0 to move seven points clear at the top.

Mary Fowler in action for Manchester City against Manchester United.
Mary Fowler produced two goal assists for Manchester City - one with each foot. Image: Optus Sport/Getty

Despite City's loss, football fans were in awe of Fowler's display, which came amid heartache at having to part ways with Cleary and leave back home in Australia after their Christmas break together. Fowler and Cleary appear as loved-up as ever and took a road trip to Far North Queensland over the Christmas and New Year period.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the superstar couple have since been forced to confront the nature of their long-distance relationship, with Fowler returning to the UK while Cleary remains in Australia preparing for the new NRL season with the Penrith Panthers. Fowler has clearly been missing her family and friends back home in Australia, posting a number of photos on social media last week showing how much she enjoys her time back home.

Speaking late last year, Cleary opened up about what it's like being in a long-distance relationship with Fowler - who he admitted he'd love to start a family with one day. “It’s been tough, it’s definitely not something that I ever thought I’d do," he said. "I think it sort of helped for us that as soon as we met each other, and we sort of got talking, we knew it was going to lead down to that path and if we wanted to do it, it was going to be long distance.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Sometimes you just get home and you want a little cuddle, but I think it’s helped us in a way to connect on more than just (on) a physical level and actually have genuine conversations. We just navigate around it and when we do see each other, it’s the best thing ever. You are really grateful for those moments we get to spend together. We’re constantly talking on FaceTime or whatever and we sort of find our way through that."

with AAP