Alessia Russo wins Goal of the Season award

Monday 29 May 2023 20:16

Congratulations to Manchester United forward Alessia Russo, whose stoppage-time header against Arsenal at the Emirates has been voted United Women's Goal of the Season.

Russo's late strike came in front of over 40,000 fans at the Emirates Stadium, sealing a remarkable comeback to inflict Arsenal's first defeat of the 2022/23 campaign. 

The hosts were five minutes away from a seventh consecutive victory after second-half goals from Frida Maanum and Laura Wienroither cancelled out Ella Toone's first-half opener.

Millie Turner equalised with five minutes to go, before Russo's strike proved to be a dramatic winner in injury-time. 

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Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Russo said: "The whole second half was a whirlwind, we come to these games and want to test ourselves and come away with three points so we're really happy.

"We knew we wanted to win it and we knew we could so it's just about finding that bit of extra motivation.

"When we're on the pitch especially in front of 40,000 people we can't hear what's coming from the side so we have to take ownership as players and that's what we did tonight."
“It’s one of those moments [where] you lose yourself for a second,” Skinner said to MUTV following the crucial victory. “I actually think I invented dance moves, but you lose your moment.

"There are so many lows in this game, but the highs are [amazing]. That moment, I want to remember it forever.

“I never felt tonight that they looked like they wanted to collapse their mentality. They went after the game and actually when they went a goal behind, I thought we were the better team. An unbelievable performance.”
 
Russo's late winner kick-started our eventual league double over the Gunners.

Vilde Boe Risa's excellent free-kick at home to Durham and Ona Batlle's thumping strike at the Stretford End placed joint-fourth, with eight per cent of the fans vote. 

Nikita Parris's Conti Cup effort against Aston Villa and Martha Thomas's quick-fire goal at home to Liverpool placed joint-third, each earning 10 per cent of the vote. 

Leah Galton's finish against Manchester City came in at a roaring second with 16 per cent, but 28 per cent of your vote was enough to see Alessia clinch the award. 

Thank you to everyone who voted. 

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