Melvine Malard’s 94th-minute winner saw Manchester United defeat Everton 2-1 to strengthen our push for UEFA Champions League football next season.
A strong performance from the Reds saw us dominate the majority of the game at a sunny Progress With Unity Stadium. Jess Park and Elisbeth Terland remained constant threats throughout the first half, with the latter bagging her 15th goal of the campaign to open the deadlock in the 39th minute.
Everton continued to push in their search for a fifth consecutive Barclays Women’s Super League victory. The away fans believed they were on course to take home a point when second-half substitute Inma Gabarro headed home in the 90th minute. However, Malard ensured United had the last say, rising highest to convert from Rolfo’s corner with barely any time left on the clock.
The late winner sees the Reds move up to second in the table, leapfrogging Chelsea, who drew with London City Lionesses elsewhere on Saturday. Crosstown rivals and league leaders Manchester City are our next WSL opponents at Old Trafford next Sunday, a game midfielder Julia Zigiotti will be unavailable for, after picking her fifth top-flight booking of the campaign against Everton.
FIRST HALF
The Reds started the game strong with an immediate effort on target as Malard found herself in space down the left-hand side of the pitch. The French international cut inside before unleashing her effort. However, Everton skipper Courtney Brosnan was quick to drop low and prevent an early lead for the Reds.
We continued to dominate and came close to scoring the opener in the 12th minute. A neat ball was played through to Terland, who saw her near-post effort parried out for a corner.
Midway through the first half and Everton were struggling to get a foothold in the game as our relentless pressure limited their time and space on the ball. Frustrations started to brew for the away side which saw the introduction of the first yellow card of the game to forward Zara Kramzar, for her foul on Maya Le Tissier.
Malard proved our strongest outlet of the first half but also proved important in defence. After strong tracking back to deny Everton their first real chance of the game, our no.9 launched a counter-attack. However, the onrushing Terland was held back by Martina Fernandez, earning the away side their second yellow of the afternoon.
The Republic of Ireland keeper could only stand still moments later after a wicked corner delivery from our skipper bounced off the crossbar to save Everton’s blushes.
The Reds took a deserved lead in the 39th minute through our Norwegian forward, Terland. Park’s floated delivery from the right wing landed at the feet of Elisabeth who, despite scuffing her first shot, made no mistake in shrugging off the defender and slotting home a left-footed effort.
SECOND HALF
The Reds picked up where we left off dictating much of the early play but without troubling Brosnan. However the away side remained a quiet threat and were not allowing themselves to be written off.
Kramzar, who signed in January, continued to be a thorn in the side of the United defence. Despite her denied shot in the first half, the Slovenian midfielder was undeterred in her efforts to level the scoring.
After intercepting Le Tissier’s backpass, Kramzar advanced down the left flank before laying the ball off to Toni Payne. But, like the rest of the afternoon, the Reds' midfield were quick to pressure the away side and overturn possession.
Sensing an opportunity to double the lead, Skinner turned to his bench. Lea Schuller replaced the goalscorer, Terland. The change was immediately effective, with Schuller’s first touches almost doubling the advantage. Our no.24 picked the ball up out wide before cutting in and unleashing an effort with which Brosnan dropped low to deny.
Before departing the field, Kramzar was presented with her best opportunity of the game as she jumped highest at the back post, but her resulting header sailed over Tullis-Joyce’s goal.
The final 10 minutes then saw the game open up with goals at both ends.
In the 90th minute, Everton found their equaliser. The cross came in from the right-hand side and there were multiple blue bodies ready to challenge. However, it was Gabarro who jumped highest at the back post to head home.
It looked as though United would be held to a draw, but in the final minute of four added on, Malard stepped up and bagged the winner for the Reds. Rolfo’s corner entered a crowded six-yard box, where our no.9 got to the ball before the onrushing Brosnan to take all three points.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier (c), Turner, Rolfo; Naalsund, Zigiotti (Drury 90+3); Park, Awujo, Malard; Terland (Schuller 72).
Subs not used: Rendell, Middleton-Patel, George, Anderson.
Booked: Lundkvist, Zigiotti.
Goals: Terland 38, Malard 90+4.
Everton: Brosnan (c); Hobson, Mace, Fernandez, Pacheco; Payne (Lawley 63), Galli, van Gool, Vignola; Momiki (Gabarro 62), Kramzar (Gago 79).
Subs not used: Ramsey, Harbert, Stenevik, Jones.
Booked: Kramzar, Fernandez.
Goal: Gabarro 90.