Manchester United Women came from behind to beat London City Lionesses 2-1 and make it seven wins in a row across all competitions.
Ex-United forward Nikita Parris opened the scoring for the visitors five minutes in, before a Jess Park strike and a Millie Turner header turned the game around and sealed the three points for the Reds.
The victory was not a perfect performance, however Marc Skinner’s side will be happy we could collect the win and retain second place in the table.
It was our second time facing the Lionesses after a 5-1 triumph in September and, going into the game, United had an unbeaten run of 13 matches against newly promoted sides in the WSL.
There were five changes from our XI that beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 on Thursday evening with Turner and Gabby George coming into the defence, the latter replacing Anna Sandberg who was ruled out with the injury she picked up in Madrid. Lisa Naaslund and Simi Awujo also made starts in midfield, while January signing Lea Schuller led our frontline. Melvine Malard, who got a goal and two assists in midweek, was not involved as a precaution due to illness.
London City, meanwhile, made four changes from their 1-0 loss to Everton last weekend. Their teamsheet initially showed three alterations, but a late change was made before kick-off as Wassa Sangare picked up a problem in the warm-up and had to be switched out for Elena Linari in the centre of defence.
FIRST HALF
Despite early United pressure, it was Parris who gave the visitors the lead in the fifth minute, as she latched onto a Freya Godfrey cross and headed the ball into the bottom right corner.
It took some time for the Reds to get up to speed and that saw the Lionesses have multiple chances in the early period of the game. Parris found herself through on goal thanks to an incisive pass in behind our defence, but great defending by Maya Le Tissier and Turner forced the centre-forward to lay the ball to attacking full-back Jana Fernandez, whose forceful shot narrowly flew over the bar.
Just moments later, a passing triangle down United’s left saw Godfrey get the better of George. The winger chopped inside but her left-footed effort was wide of the mark.
United leveled the game in the 30th minute as Park's powerful attempt from outside the box was whipped into the bottom right corner. It was United’s first chance of the game, even if we had seen the majority of the possession to that point.
In the 42nd minute, goalscoring hero Park almost handed us the advantage as she brought the ball down with her back to goal. The tricky midfielder, playing on the left wing, produced a 'Cruyff' turn in a dangerous position but her shot was blocked.
Before half-time, Phallon Tullis-Joyce was able to redeem herself after giving the ball to ex-team-mate Parris, by saving the one-on-one chance that followed.
SECOND HALF
In the 53rd minute, a dangerous cross by Jayde Riviere was whipped across the London City Lionesses box. It was another opportunity for United to break the tie and take the lead, however the delivery was not attacked and it rolled out for a goal-kick.
Despite controlling the ball in tight areas, the Reds were being frustrated and could not fashion a convincing chance in a hard-fought second half, leaving the scores level.
That was until the 79th minute, when a delightful free-kick from Le Tissier was placed towards the front post. The ball bounced and was jumped cleverly by Julia Zigiotti, before Le Tissier's centre-back partner Turner met it with a thumping header, to give the Reds the lead.
It was an excellent set-piece that caught the retreating London City backline out.
A claim by Tullis-Joyce from a corner helped to thwart a dangerous period from the away side, in the final 10 minutes. A cross from Godfrey flashed across goal as she tried to find an equaliser moments later, but United continued to hold on.
In the last ticks of the game, a header by Isobel Goodwin also made its way across the face of the target and caused a brief scare, but rolled wide.
The win was confirmed soon after, and is a result which keeps us second in the WSL table for at least another month, as the division's next fixtures aren't due to take place until 15 March.
Next up for United, it's a return to Champions League action with our knockout play-off second leg against Atletico Madrid in Leigh on Thursday night.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Drury 71), Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Lundkvist 46); Naalsund, Miyazawa; Park, Awujo (Zigiotti 46), Wangerheim (Janssen 63); Schuller.
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Terland.
Booked: Riviere, Zigiotti.
Goals: Park 30, Turner 79
London City Lionesses: Lete; Fernandez (Goldie 87), Linari, Kennedy, Patterson; Van de Donk (Asllani 63), Geyoro (Roddar 80), Kumagi (c); Godfrey, Parris (Marcetto 80); Franssi (Goodwin 63).
Subs not used: Orman, Imuran, Perez, Poor.
Booked: Fernandez, Pattinson, Geyoro.
Goal: Parris 5.