Man City 3 United Women 1

Saturday 23 March 2024 14:30

Manchester United lost 3-1 to Manchester City in Saturday's derby at the Etihad Stadium, watched by over 40,000 supporters.

The two sides were evenly matched for the first 35 minutes, but two quick goals from Jess Park put the hosts 2-0 up before half-time. 

Moments into the second half, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw found herself one-on-one with Mary Earps and slotted it past the Reds' shot-stopper to increase that advantage to three.

Hannah Blundell’s cross was turned in past Khiara Keating by Kerstin Casparij late on, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the Reds.

FIRST HALF   The Reds showed promise going forward in the opening 10 minutes. A long ball over the top for Nikita Parris to chase was well dealt with by City keeper Keating, before a chance for Lucia Garcia to burst forward was flagged narrowly offside.

At the other end, Jayde Riviere was dealing aptly with dangerous winger Lauren Hemp, making a couple of well-timed tackles to deny her delivering a cross from the left.

The first real opportunity came for Parris, whose strike forced Keating into a diving save at the near post. It was a catalyst for the rest of the squad to push forward as Geyse had a number of chances blocked by City’s defence, prior to putting a shot wide 15 minutes in.

City had seen out United’s storm and out of nowhere they had a chance of their own. Park unleashed a rocket of a strike from 30 yards out which forced Earps to parry it away to her right.

As the last 10 minutes before the break drew near, the game opened even further. Garcia had a curling shot tipped over the bar by Keating whilst Yui Hasegawa produced a long-range effort that was a fraction wide.

However, it was City who made the breakthrough as Hasegawa won the ball back in midfield. Park was unmarked in the United penalty area, and she powered a shot past Earps. Moments later, Shaw thought she had got the hosts' second, but was flagged for offside.

A minute before half-time, Park was the quickest to react from a corner, finding space to volley in another City goal to make it 2-0.

SECOND HALF

Moments after the restart, Shaw made it 3-0 when she was given space in the box to coolly slot past Earps. It would have no doubt dampened the spirits of our large away contingent at the Etihad Stadium, who would have hoped we could get back into the contest despite the half-time scoreline, following some promising play in the opening 45 minutes.

United's little fortune on the afternoon continued as Riviere slipped whilst changing direction and stayed down, appearing to have picked up an injury. Our no.14 returned to the pitch for a short time before Aoife Mannion was brought on to replace her.

United kept our heads held high though, and had our best spell of possession as the game moved into the closing stages. It was Blundell who gave the Reds a glimmer of hope in the 74th minute, as her cross deflected past Keating and into the net, off the outstretched leg of Casparij.

Marc Skinner's side had the momentum and came again. The Reds worked the ball into a dangerous area and Geyse fired narrowly over the crossbar, moments after play was brought to a halt for a clash of heads between Rachel Williams and Alex Greenwood.

Eight minutes of time were added on at the end of the 90, but the home side did enough to limit any real chances during the extension, ensuring they would take the points from the derby encounter.

MATCH DETAILS

Manchester City: Keating; Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood, Ouahabi (Morgan 87); Park, Hasegawa, Coombs (Angeldahl 84); Fowler, Shaw, Hemp.

Subs not used: MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Kelly, Blindkilde Brown, Mace.

Goals: Park 37, 45, Shaw 46.

United: Earps; Riviere (Mannion 58), Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Zelem, Naalsund, Geyse, Toone (Malard 85); Garcia, Parris (Williams 58).

Subs not used: Tullis-Joyce, Evans, Ladd, Aherne, Guerrero, Rabjohn.

Goal: Casparij (og) 74.

Booked: Blundell, Geyse.

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