X

Match report: United Women 2 PSG 1

Manchester United made it three wins out of three in this season's Champions League, with a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in our first-ever European match at Old Trafford.

Melvine Malard held off Griedge Mbock and curled past the returning Mary Earps to give us the lead, in front of a delighted crowd numbering 14,667.

But the Parisians fought back and levelled just before the break, thanks to Olga Carmona's rasping strike from distance.

United were not to be denied on a wet and memorable night in M16, though, as Fridolina Rolfo connected beautifully with Anna Sandberg's cross to head home the winner on the hour mark, and send us third in the table.

Malard celebrates tucking home the opener.

FIRST HALF - A TALE OF TWO FINE FINISHES

Marc Skinner made five changes to his side after United’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, with Safia Middleton-Patel and Simi Awujo making their first starts of the campaign.

The former almost had to pick the ball out of the net with her first action of the game, but fortunately Joe Echegini's sweetly struck effort rattled the inside of the Wales international's left-hand post and flew past the right one, for a goal-kick.

This was enough to spark United into gear, and Malard, who looked sharp all night, took responsibility of possession, and linked up well with Jess Park on the right-hand side, before the latter saw her shot blocked by a visiting defender.

The tireless Jayde Riviere then guided a ball over the top of PSG’s backline for Malard to chase. The French forward had it all to do, but she showed plenty of strength and pace, shrugging off Mbock before shifting the ball on to her left foot and finessing her shot past Earps.

PSG had their own right-sided outlet with Rasheedat Ajibade leading the majority of their first-half attacks, and giving Sandberg something to think about.

Middleton-Patel was called into action twice in fairly quick succession, as Ajibade's ambitious effort from the tightest of angles nearly caught her out, before she poked a cross away with her feet.

It seemed like United had done enough to hold off Paulo Cesar's side, but Carmona's incredible long-range effort was virtually unsaveable and pulled the scores level going into the interval.

SECOND HALF - ROLFO RISES HIGHEST

The visitors looked to continue where they left off as Anais Ebayilin forced a brilliant save from Middleton-Patel in the opening minutes of the second period.

But we quickly regathered, and the key moment of the match arrived in the 58th minute.

Park orchestrated a one-two with Simi Awujo, skipped away from a defender, and slid through Sandberg, who guided in a first-time cross with the inside of her foot.

The pinpoint pass found the head of her Swedish compatriot Rolfo and our no.12 scored for the second Champions League game in a row, before wheeling away in delight and punching the air in celebration.

The returning Mary Earps could do little about Rolfo's winner.

Earps, who received a mixed reception from the home support, prevented Malard from doubling her personal tally, and then gathered from Awujo as the Reds sought a third.

Both sides made a series of substitutions in the closing stages, to refresh tiring legs, and the Parisians went close through Lea Morissaint, who miskicked at the far post, and Tara Elimbi Gilbert - her shot was brilliantly blocked by Riviere as she put her body on the line to prevent it heading goalwards.

The crowd was exasperated when the officials signalled for six minutes' added time, but the Reds kept our cool and saw out the victory, which means we join Barcelona and Lyon on the maximum nine points.

United's squad and staff huddled together on the pitch after the final whistle before saluting all four corners of the ground, no doubt taking in the last vestiges of an evening that will live long in the memory.

Marc Skinner celebrates with Maya Le Tissier and Melvine Malard.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Middleton-Patel; Riviere, Le Tissier, George, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti Olme; Park (Williams 90), Awujo (Toone 69), Rolfo (Galton 75); Malard (Terland 75).

Subs not used: Rendell, Blundell, Naalsund, Griffiths.

Goals: Malard 31, Rolfo 58.

Booked: Malard, Le Tissier.

Paris Saint-Germain: Earps; Isabela Chagas (Morissaint 84), De Almeida, Mbock Bathy, Olga Carmona; Ebayilin, Groenen (Elimbi Gilbert 73), Karchaoui (c); Ajibade (Diakite 73), Leuchter, Echegini (Kanjinga 64).

Subs not used: Kiedrzynek, Toussaint, Samoura, Dorsin, Gaetino, Graziani, Fatier, Benera.

Goal: Carmona 45+3.

Booked: Karchaoui.

Attendance: 14,667.

Recommended: