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Manchester United women moved into a Champions League place in the Women’s Super League with a superb 4-2 victory at the Etihad.
United started in blistering fashion as Elisabeth Terland prodded a shot just over the bar within the first 30 seconds of the match.
In only the second minute, Ella Toone made a fantastic run into the City box but unfortunately fired the ball right at Khiara Keating.
Marc Skinner’s side continued with their impressive start when Leah Galton powered down the left hand side and fired a fine effort toward goal but it glanced the side netting.
United were soon rewarded for their brave start, however. Just seconds later, Toone raced through once more and cutely dinked the ball over the onrushing City keeper and the Red Devils were ahead.
The away side’s tail was certainly up and they took control of the game when Galton took advantage of a bit of ping-pong in the City box and turned the ball in, showing great poacher instinct.
City finally responded to the red onslaught and Aoba Fujino curled just wide in the 29th minute.
Mary Fowler threatened again for the home side but the ball drifted harmlessly wide of Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s goal.
United continued to give it their all however, and a smart interception in the midfield set up Terland with a one-on-one but she fired over from inside the penalty box.
The away fans were in raptures just moments later as Keating’s goal kick towards Leila Ouahabi was short and Celin Bizet nicked in expertly to set up Toone for an easy finish to get her second of the game in the 36th minute.
Just four minutes later though, City got themselves a lifeline when Vivianne Miedema evaded her marker in the box and produced a powerful header that reduced the deficit.
A breathless first half continued as City scored their second as the United defence was rattled.
In the second minute of added time in the first half, defender Rebecca Knaak rose highest at the back post to head the ball into the bottom corner past Tullis-Joyce.
United were thankful for the first half whistle after a few moments of madness had almost outdone an incredible performance for the majority of the 45 minutes.
Skinner’s side have great character though and when many teams would have folded, they started the second half in wonderful fashion as Toone scored her third and United’s fourth.
The City goalkeeper was in trouble just ten seconds into the half as her kick was blocked by Terland and a grateful Toone was on hand to race by and roll the ball into an empty net.
The home side came back however and Mary Fowler’s had a low shot smartly saved by Tullis-Joyce before Jill Roord’s header looped wide.
On 73 minutes, the home side thought they had equalised but United’s American keeper fantastically plucked the ball out of the air from a Knaack header.
On 78 minutes, Tullis-Joyce proved her worth again as she got down rapidly to turn away Fowler’s goal bound effort.
United managed the game well from then on but Maya Le Tissier had to produce a fantastic block in added time to deny Knaack yet again.
Skinner’s side held on for an impressive 4-2 win and their first ever away win in the Manchester derby.
The Red Devils will be hoping they can repeat the trick on Wednesday when they welcome the same opponents to the Leigh Sports Village in the League Cup quarter final.
Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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