Two second-half penalties from Khadija Shaw helped Manchester City to a 4-1 win over the London City Lionesses that was more difficult than the scoreline made it look.

Andree Jeglertz's side appeared to be cruising after two goals in the space of four minutes from Vivianne Miedema and Laura Blindkilde Brown had them 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes.

But Nikita Parris capitalised on a defensive mistake to punish her former team in the 19th minute and it turned into a nervy battle until Shaw struck from the spot in the 69th minute and then repeated the trick at the death.

Grace Clinton, making her first start for City, was the key to opening goal with 11 minutes gone as she charged forward from her own half.

City shifted the ball wide and when Kerstin Casparij stood up the cross, Miedema was left unmarked to head home from close range.

City kept the pressure on and when Alex Greenwood's effort from a corner was blocked the ball fell for Blindkilde Brown to drive a low shot through the crowd and in.

The newly-promoted Lionesses have already suffered heavy defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal and might have feared a repeat, but they responded well as City were caught trying to play out from the back and Parris punished them with a clinical finish.

Shaw should have responded immediately but, having cut inside neatly to make space in the box, she dragged her shot wide and both Izzy Goodwin and Parris had chances to level for London City before the break.

Elene Lete did well to keep out Miedema's 52nd-minute header but, after Saki Kumagai used an arm to block Shaw's shot, the Jamaica forward sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

And as time was running out, Wassa Sangaré pulled down Shaw who stepped up again to beat Lete.