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Thursday 11 September 2025 20:41
Manchester United Women were narrowly defeated 1-0 in the first leg of our Champions League third round qualifying game against Brann, despite being the better side for much of the game.
Marc Skinner’s team had several chances to take the lead in the first half with opportunities for Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland and Melvine Malard but Selma Panengstuen proved to be the star of Brann, keeping the game at 0-0.
United continued with a bright, attacking style of play in the second half but against the run of play, it was the hosts who took the lead through a set-piece with Ingrid Stenevik heading in Signe Gaupset’s delivery.
Toone almost found an equaliser late on but the hosts were inspired by the record-breaking home crowd and dug deep to hold onto their lead.
FIRST HALF
An early corner for the hosts was handled calmly and confidently by United’s defence. Skinner’s side were then able to race up the other end. Anna Sandberg, finding space on the left-hand side, delivered a great ball into the box which Terland headed just wide of the target.
United were intent on taking the game to the Norwegian outfit early on and our next opportunity came when Toone played a nice forward pass to Malard but the France international’s cross was too close to the Brann keeper.
The Reds were playing some lovely attacking football. Lisa Naalsund, who was facing her former team, pulled it back to Malard, who played it into Toone on the edge of the box but her powerful shot was blocked.
Toone almost breaks the deadlock Video
Toone almost breaks the deadlock
MATCH CLIP | A lovely piece of play led to this chance for our iconic no.7, Ella Toone…
Jess Park was having a great game, working hard in midfield to win the ball back and playing direct, creating more opportunities for her team-mates up front.
Our newest signing was linking up well with Toone and after receiving the ball from Hinata Miyazawa on the edge of the box, she squared it to our no.7, whose shot deflected towards the far bottom corner but Panengstuen at full stretch managed to deny us the opening goal.
Sandberg then played a perfectly weighted pass into the box and Malard rolled it into the path of the on-rushing Toone, who forced another fantastic save by Panengstuen, who tipped it over the bar. United were getting closer and could have been 3-0 up if it wasn’t for the performance of Brann’s shot-stopper.
Though Skinner’s side had the better chances in the first half, Brann had opportunities too. A rare break for the hosts resulted in a corner that was cleared off the line by Maya Le Tissier, while an ambitious long-range effort from Signe Gaupset forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a save.
Toone had United’s best chance in the first half.
SECOND HALF
United started the second half brightly but Brann had cottoned on to the threat Park possessed and tried to crowd her out, forcing us to adapt.
The Reds looked in trouble as Lauren Davidson countered, with our backline chasing after her. She had support arriving but she committed to the shot herself, smashing it into the outer side-netting.
As the game ticked on, Brann sat deeper and United grew frustrated. A chance for the Reds to break the deadlock came from an unlikely source, Dominique Janssen, who made a good run down the left. After a lovely exchange with Malard on the edge of the area, she took the shot which the Brann keeper spilled into the path of Park, whose rebound was smothered by the recovering shot-stopper.
Jess Park impressed in Bergen.
Another chance for Malard followed soon after, as she got her head on the end of Toone’s cross, but could only direct it into the keeper’s arms.
Naalsund, who put in a real shift, gave away a free-kick in the final third and, against the run of play, Brann took the lead. The ball was whipped into the penalty area by Gaupset and Stenevik managed to shake off Millie Turner to nod it past Tullis-Joyce, 76 minutes in.
United were chasing the game now but we still believed. Opportunities were still coming but, again, Panengstuen was called into action as Toone tried to find the far corner. The keeper got her fingertips on what looked a goalbound strike, forcing a corner. The goalkeeper denied us again from the resulting set-piece.
It was a frustrating end to what had been a positive performance from Marc Skinner’s side, but we have the opportunity to turn it around in the second leg at Leigh Sports Village next Thursday.
It’s all to play for at LSV next week.
MATCH DETAILS
Brann: Panengstuen; Lehtola, Tynnila, Authen, Stenevik; Bogere (Lovera 72), Haugland (c), Gaupset; Davidson (Redisch Kvamme 90+3), Zomers (Isaksen 46 (Birkelund 86)), Eikeland.
Unused subs: Ellingsen, Johnsen, Lie Eghdami, Peuhkurine, Renmark, Stavenes, Svendheim, Thorisdottir.
Goals: Stenevik 76.
Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Sandberg (Turner 74); Naalsund (Zigiotti Olme 78), Miyazawa, Toone; Park (Bizet Donnum 74), Terland, Malard.
Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Hill, Griffiths.
Booked: Naalsund.
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Thursday 11 September 2025 20:41
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