Manchester United Women showcased their prowess in the Women's Super League (WSL) by defeating Manchester City Women 4-2 in a thrilling Manchester derby. The match, held on Sunday, saw Ella Toone shine with a hat-trick, marking her first in the league. United's victory not only highlighted their sharpness and ability to capitalize on opportunities but also propelled them above City in the WSL standings, claiming third place.
From the onset, Manchester United Women appeared more prepared and determined. Ella Toone opened the scoring in the 14th minute, setting the tone for what would become a memorable match for her. Leah Galton quickly followed up with a second goal, turning home from close range to double the lead. Despite holding just 26% possession, United's effectiveness in attack was evident as they capitalized on City's defensive errors.
Manchester City Women fought back valiantly. Vivianne Miedema and Rebecca Knaak scored in the first half, narrowing United's lead to 3-2 and keeping the tension high. Despite dominating possession with 74%, City's performance was marred by mistakes that ultimately cost them the match.
Manchester United Women's manager, Marc Skinner, praised Ella Toone for her hard work and dedication.
"She has just been an absolute inspiration. Seeing her from the side, she's been the first one on the training ground and the last one to leave. She has earned every second of this moment for how hard she worked to get back." – Marc Skinner
Skinner also emphasized the importance of Toone's love for the game and her crucial role in both club and country.
"Sometimes you may be sent a message that's from above. The reality was Ella has played a hell of a lot of football in the last two or three years and grown and had so many experiences. For me, we need a Toonie that loves football, that's buzzing. We need a player like that for England and Manchester United." – Marc Skinner
The match was not only a display of Manchester United's attacking efficiency but also a testament to their resilience and teamwork. Phallon Tullis-Joyce highlighted the team's grit and determination.
"We have a really gritty team and women that are ready to just grind it out and that's what we saw today for sure, especially Toonie." – Phallon Tullis-Joyce
On the other hand, Manchester City Women faced disappointment with their performance. Manager Gareth Taylor acknowledged the team's errors and expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Our build-up play is usually a really strong part of our game. It's the way I like to play, because it allows us to arrive as a team, but we got it wrong tonight on a number of occasions." – Gareth Taylor
Taylor also addressed the challenges faced by his young goalkeeper but remained supportive.
"It's difficult for her, she's a young goalkeeper, but she's been really good for us. It's not the first time, it happened last season and all goalkeepers go through that. What we want to see is a strength of character to come back." – Gareth Taylor
Ella Toone reflected on the significance of the derby victory and her personal achievement.
"We're speechless as well. It's a derby, so it means so much. We put in a massive shift and a great performance. I think we deserved it." – Ella Toone
She further commented on the team's unity and determination.
"We're doing well. Sometimes people write us off but we know what squad we've got. We have personality, we've got attitude, we've got work-rate and we give it our all every time we step onto the pitch and we enjoy playing together." – Ella Toone
This match serves as a valuable learning experience for Manchester United Women, as noted by manager Marc Skinner. The team's ability to secure a win despite limited possession demonstrates their strategic acumen and readiness for future challenges.
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