Manchester United cruised into the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday night, after a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid completed an aggregate rout in our knockout play-off.
With a handful of players ruled out and games coming thick and fast, Marc Skinner made four changes from the side that started Sunday’s WSL win over London City Lionesses. Hanna Lundkvist, Dominique Janssen, Julia Zigiotti and Melvine Malard all came back into the team.
Under the lights at the Progress With Unity Stadium, Zigiotti’s majestic scoring form continued just shy of the half-hour mark, before Jess Park continued to add to her personal highlight reel this season with a stunning strike from distance just prior to the interval, helping to seal the result.
On top of the breaking further new ground in Europe, this was also a milestone moment for Skinner, who celebrated his 100th United win.
FIRST HALF
Atletico knew they needed goals to have any chance of overturning the deficit and an early sighter from Amaiur Sarriegi around 70 seconds in was easily gathered by Phallon Tullis-Joyce. But there was early United pressure too, with Malard shooting from distance straight at Lola Gallardo.
Atletico continued to probe threateningly, although it was by no means one-way traffic, and Phallon needed to be sharp 10 minutes in, denying Synne Jensen with strong hands low to her left. Gallardo soon also made a similar save from Lea Schuller's strike, pushing the shot to safety, while a later chance for Zigiotti saw her unconventionally nudge the ball just wide of the target with her left thigh.
Midway through the half, Lisa Naalsund went one-on-one with Gallardo but just overran the ball. Atletico then immediately gave it back and Malard forced another parry from the goalkeeper.
With the action rather end-to-end, Millie Turner, in a first Champions League appearance of the season, threw her body in front of Jensen’s powerful shot for a block made even more crucial by what happened next.
It was followed moments later by Zigiotti’s opener, a calm first-time finish with her left foot after Naalsund cut the ball back – a fifth goal in her last eight appearances.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors and United then turned the screw in the closing minutes before half time. The original chance was Hinata Miyazawa’s, forcing Gallardo into a near-post save with her feet. From the resultant short corner, Hini moved the ball to Park, who unleashed a thunderous strike 20 yards from goal that rippled the net. The superlatives are running thin.
SECOND HALF
Needing five just to force extra time, the tie was pretty much out of sight for Atletico but they made the first opportunity after the break when Miyazawa deflected Julia Bartel’s goal-bound shot wide. Amaiur wound up blazing a volley over the bar a few minutes later.
Gallardo then showed an incredible level of composure and footwork as she raced out to see off United substitute Ellen Wangerheim, flicking the ball up to take control. Their battle carried on as the goalkeeper soon parried Ellen’s first-time strike from near the penalty spot with strong hands.
With just under 20 minutes to play, the width of the post denied Park what would have been a splendid third United goal, combining well with Wangerheim at the end of a fine team move of one and two-touch passes, striking the base of the upright.
Park eventually made way for 17-year-old Jessica Anderson, marking a special night for the academy midfielder, handed her senior United debut.
Wangerheim, playing centrally rather than on the wing in recent weeks, was causing Atletico problems and slipped in Anderson in the closing stages. The youngster saw her effort saved by Gallardo, but was brave each time the ball came her way and soon worked the goalkeeper again.
As United saw things through, Atletico played out the final moments with 10 players after Xenia Perez picked up a second yellow card for pulling back Wangerheim.
The boss said prior to kick-off it would “mean the world”
to be in a Champions League quarter-final and the next stop on this European tour will be Munich as we now move on to face Bayern.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist (George 65), Le Tissier (c), Turner, Janssen; Zigiotti (Awujo 46), Miyazawa; Park (Anderson 78), Naalsund, Malard; Schuller (Wangerheim 55).
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell.
Goals: Zigiotti 28, Park 41.
Booked: Schuller, Lundkvist.
Atletico Madrid: Gallardo (c); Alexia, Xenia, Lauren, Menayo (Rodriguez 58), Medina (Otermin 65); Boe Risa (Penalvo 58), Bartel, Fiamma (Kuhl 65); Jensen, Amaiur (Luany 74).
Subs not used: Bucero, Larque, Chinchilla, Gio, Guijarro, Portales.
Booked: Menayo, Xenia, Lauren.
Sent off: Xenia.
Attendance: 4,225.