Manchester United Women beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to pull one step closer to Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League.
The Red Devils started with intent and had the ball in a couple of dangerous areas but could not trouble the Palace keeper.
After seven minutes Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Hinata Miyazawa combined with a nice passing move and the Japanese international looped a delivery into the middle, but Clinton and Elisabeth Terland got in each other’s way without making any meaningful contact to direct the ball towards goal.
Fortunately, United fans at the Leigh Sports Village did not have to wait long as they got their noses in front after nine minutes. Milla-Maj Majasaari cleared the ball right to the United attack and Clinton found Miyazawa who passed the ball to Terland who fired into the bottom right to give Marc Skinner’s side the lead.
After 15 minutes, United almost had their second as Leah Galton burst down the left wing and whipped in a cross to Terland, who prodded the ball towards goal but it clipped the far post.
The home side continued to press and had a few crosses into the box without threatening the visitors’ goal. However, Palace refused to lie down however and got themselves level after 38 minutes.
Lily Susan Woodham clipped a ball over the hosts’ back line and Mille Gejl ran past the United defence and smashed the ball well past Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who was left helpless by the accuracy of the strike.
As the first half came to a close, Terland thought she had won her side a penalty as she raced around the Palace keeper and went down under pressure from defender Katrine Veje. The referee waved away the Norwegian’s appeal however and United went in level at half-time.
The visitors, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, started the second half in control and had more attacking opportunities. Nonetheless, it was the Champions League chasing home side who almost got ahead again after 59 minutes.
The Palace keeper, Majasaari, who endured a tough afternoon spilled a cross straight to Leah Galton. The Eagles player managed to save it but the rebound fell to Ella Toone, whose effort was spectacularly cleared off the line by Allyson Swaby.
Smelling blood, United got themselves in front again after 64 minutes. A Grace Clinton pass deflected off My Cato and fell right into Terland’s path. The former Brighton and Hove Albion striker did not make the cleanest of connections but her effort still found a way to get past the keeper and into the away side’s net.
Minutes later, the dangerous Terland almost had her hat-trick but she found herself off-balance and could not trouble the keeper with her effort.
After 80 minutes, the Red Devils really should have finished off the game. Anna Sandberg delivered an excellent cross to the back post and Celin Bizet met it with her head but her effort beat into the turf and it skipped wide of the net with the goal at her mercy.
Finally United made the game safe after 85 minutes when Ella Toone whipped in a free-kick and it was expertly met by Grace Clinton who headed over Majasaari into an empty goal.
The home side saw out the victory with minimum fuss and pulled within four points of Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.
United will not play again this month due to international commitments but will return to action on Sunday 2nd March against Leicester City in the league before facing Championship side Sunderland for a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Featured image James Fearn via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
