Match report: City 2 United Women 4
Marc Skinner's Manchester United Women beat rivals Manchester City 4-2 in what will go down as a derby classic on Sunday evening.
We raced into a three-goal lead after 36 minutes, with Ella Toone twice finding the target either side of Leah Galton's close-range effort.
Just before half-time, City managed to pull two back through Vivianne Miedema and Rebecca Knack setting up a tantalising second half.
Toone secured her hat-trick within 10 seconds of the restart and a solid defensive display prevented City from answering back.
Seconds into the game, United created our first opportunity after getting a quick start out of the blocks. The Reds pressed well, won the ball and got two shots off in the opening two minutes - Elisabeth Terland's strike was wide before, moments later, Toone's shot was caught comfortably by goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
More chances would follow for United as Galton found the side-netting but the breakthrough would come just moments later as Skinner's side were first to every ball. Keating's goal-kick was brought down by a Red and City couldn't get near the ball as Hinata Miyazawa controlled it well, picking out Terland through the middle, she tapped it into the path of Toone who raced onto the ball and lifted it over Keating.
We kept the pressure on, Terland almost got our second with a header at the back post but it took a deflection and nestled comfortably in Keating's arms. A corner provided another opportunity and this time, Galton made no mistake as she was quickest to react after the ball bounced around the box, smashing the ball into the net from close range.
Just as City looked as though they were growing into the game, United pounced again, Terland put pressure on Keating as she dribbled it looking for options. She played it straight to Bizet who passed it back to Terland but her strike was over the bar. City didn't heed the warning and Keating made the same mistake again, Bizet ran onto the wayward pass and played in Ella Toone who made no mistale with the finish for her second and United's third.
Against the run of play, City got one back courtesy of Miedema who headed Fowler's cross past Tullis-Joyce. As we entered four minutes of injury-time, momentum had swung in City's favour and they had another opportunity, this time it was Knaak, making her WSL debut, who headed it past Tullis-Joyce, putting them right back into the game as half-time arrived.
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SECOND HALF
Straight from the restart, Toone secured her hat-trick. Inside the first 10 seconds of the half, Terland charged down Keating's attempted long ball forward, leaving Toone an open goal to roll the ball into, after winning the foot-race with Keating in front of our travelling fans.
The game settled after and United found ourselves defending a two-goal lead resolutely. A number of chances went begging for the hosts, Fowler's low drive was smothered by Tullis-Joyce before Jill Roord's header looped wide of the far post.
City kept the pressure on us, a corner was cleared by Toone at the near post but only as far as taker Fowler. Her second delivery tested Tullis-Joyce who punched it off the line. Skinner's side breathed a sigh of relief as the follow-up was marginally wide.
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Though City were dominating this second half, United were unflustered and confident in our defensive work. We waited patiently for further chances and as we entered six minutes of injury-time, Grace Clinton had an opportunity to burst forward but instead of striking she hesitated giving Casparij time to get back and make the block.
City had tired though and United managed to hold onto the ball and see out the final minutes of this classic derby that will live long in the memory for United fans.
MATCH DETAILS
City: Keating; Casperij, Knaak, Aleixandri (c), Ouahabi; Roord, Park (Murphy 85), Hasegawa; Fowler, Miedema (Blindkilde-Brown 77), Fujino.
Unused subs: Annets, Yamashita, Coombs, Prior, Oyama, Davies.
Goals: Miedema 40, Knaak 45+3.
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Sandberg 65); Miyazawa, Toone (Clinton 77), Janssen; Bizet (Williams 85), Terland (Malard 65), Galton.
Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Mannion, Awujo.
Goals: Toone 14, 36, 46, Galton 21.
Bookings: George, Clinton.