Manchester United Women rolled over PSV Eindhoven 4-0 and are now one game from Champions League qualification.
The victory means that they will take on either Hammarby or Metalist 1925 Kharkiv on Saturday for a spot in the group stages.
First Half
United started brightly and took the lead early on through Elisabeth Terland.
Good pressing up top led to the ball breaking to the Norwegian, who slotted home coolly to the keeper’s left to give the Red Devils the perfect start in Stockholm.
United continued to push and almost doubled their lead when a ball from Dominque Janssen was almost met by Terland but the ball drifted just wide of the post.
New signing Julia Olme almost scored her first goal after great combination play with Terland.
The Norwegian won the ball and played a ball square across goal but the Swede could only clip the post with her effort.
The Dutch could not live with the terrific Terland and she spun into space and played the ball off to Ella Toone, whose fierce drive just rose over the bar.
United’s attack were truly rampant and they soon doubled their lead.
Ella Toone’s shot was well-saved before Celine Bizet turned in the rebound to give United a 2-0 lead before the half-time break.
Second half
The one-way traffic continued in the second 45 minutes when Toone ran at the PSV defence and found Terland in space once again. She made no mistake confidently slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper to give United a commanding 3-0 lead.
The pressure continued to build on the Dutch defence as United raced forward again on the counter.
Terland combined with Olme before she fired her shot just wide of the goal.
United saved their best for last though when Terland played a wonderful one-two with Toone on the half-way line and she spun into space and ran at the PSV keeper.
Terland broke away from the defence, leaving them for dead, and fired in an unstoppable strike to give United a four goal lead.
It was a sumptuous hat-trick which will give the Norwegian an immense amount of confidence heading into a vitally important season.
The Dutch side finally created a chance of their own right at the end but despite doing little all game, Phallon Tullis-Joyce showed her class with a wonderful diving save to keep a clean sheet for Marc Skinner’s side.
The full time whistle blew and an incredible result was sealed as United are now just one step away from Champions League football.
Feature image Michael Campanella 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.
