Bayern Munich 3 Manchester United Women 2
Manchester United fell to our first pre-season defeat in a hard-fought game against Bayern Munich.
Head coach Marc Skinner once again made the most of the game time, rotating the squad throughout the encounter.
FIRST HALF
It was Bayern Munich who started the stronger side but an impressive cross from Guiliana Gwinn on the right-hand side could not be met and went out for a corner.
After 10 minutes, United started to get into the game and Lucia Garcia brought the ball under control after Maya Le Tissier picked her out from her own half.
The Spaniard's resulting shot led to two corners for Marc Skinner’s side, but we could not quite make the most of those set pieces.
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Just minutes later, Geyse won the ball back high up the pitch and Galton took her time to finish past Maria-Luisa Grohs in the Bayern goal, giving United the lead.
The German side were not for holding back once behind, with Millie Turner and Jayde Riviere both putting in key tackles to keep them from levelling the scores.
With Garcia and Geyse causing problems in United's attack, it was not long before there was a chance to double the advantage.
The Spanish forward stole the ball from Magdalena Eriksson to be in on goal but with Bayern players rushing back, she squared it to Geyse, who set herself and placed home her first goal in our colours, since making the move from Barcelona over the summer.
With the temperatures rising, a drinks break was vital on 25 minutes and, after the stoppage, our defence continued to put in some excellent tackles to keep our opponents at bay.
Just five minutes before the break, Garcia was making her present felt around our opponents' defence again, producing a shot that went behind for a corner. This resulted in a header from Turner being cleared off the line by Georgia Stanway.
On the stroke of half-time, Bayern looked set to get one back after Harder was left on her own to bear down on goal, but a sharp save from Sophie Baggaley kept the clean sheet intact as the teams went back down the tunnel at half-time.
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SECOND HALF
The first United changes of the afternoon were made following the break with Nikita Parris and Evie Rabjohn replacing Geyse and Jayde Riviere respectively.
Bayern took a lot of the possession in the run-up to the hour mark and our opposition’s control finally paid off for them on 59 minutes, when Harder showed her strength to work an opportunity on goal, which she went on to score.
That goal spurred the Frauen-Bundesliga champions on to get the leveller, which arrived via a Klara Buhl penalty, after Linda Dallmann was brought down in the box.
Rabjohn did well to keep Alara Sehitler at bay down the wing shortly after, but Bayern would continue to push for the win.
Jill Baijings hitting the crossbar was followed by an attempt from Maximiliane Rall, but the Reds’ defence kept them out.
Despite our best efforts though, with less than five minutes left on the clock, Bayern took the lead with Dallmann completing a turnaround on the scoreline for the German side.
United didn’t give up however and the game's last chance fell to Turner. A ball over the top from Le Tissier was cleared as far as our no.21, but her shot went over the bar as the final whistle blew.
Speaking after the final whistle, United head coach Skinner said: “I am really, really happy with how the team performed.
“It was a real positive for the players. We were disciplined at times and had to be patient. We had to bide our time and jump at the right times.
“Both goals were created so well, I am really happy.”
Garcia, who set up Geyse’s first goal, added: “It was tough and a big challenge for us.
“I am so happy for [Geyse]. I am so happy for her, it was a great moment. She shouted: ‘Lu, Lu, Lu at me [for the goal]’ and so I passed to her - she said thank you!”
MATCH STATS
United: Baggaley, Le Tissier, Ladd, Riviere (Rabjohn 46), Galton (Thomas 64), Naalsund, Garcia (Ferreira Fuso 46), Evans (Aherne 46) Geyse (Parris 46), Turner, Watson.
Goals: Galton 15, Geyse 22.
Bayern Munich: Grohs, Damnjanovic, Viggosdottier (Belloumou 70), Gwinn (Rall 63), Lohmann (Baijings 46), Eriksson (de Souza da Silva 46), Magull (Kerr 46), Naschenweng (Kett 70), Harder (Dallmann 63), Zadrazil (Hansen 70), Stanway (Schuller 46).
Goals: Harder 59, Buhl 66, Dallmann 86.