Blistering second half display from United seals valuable three points in historic WSL fixture

Manchester United’s women came from behind to secure a hard-fought three points against Everton this afternoon in what was the first ever women’s game at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium.

Honoka Hayashi’s early finish gave the hosts a half-time lead, but Melvine Malard’s strike just past the hour and an own goal from Hikaru Kitagawa turned the game on its head before Jess Park’s double sealed the points.

The win continues United’s impressive run of form and stretches thier ubeaten start to the season to six games as they look to mount a challenge for their first ever Super League crown.

Hosts shock lead

United deserved their win but somehow found themselves behind on 15 minutes after missing a trio of fine chances to open the scoring before Hayashi became the first women to score in Everton’s new Bramley Dock home.

Naalsund, Terland and Rolfo all missed fine opportunities to break the deadlock in the early exchanges as United asserted their dominance from the off.

It looked like matter of time before Skinner’s side took the lead but failure to deal with a wide free kick allowed Hayashi to smash home a half volley against the run of play.

United continued to have the better of proceedings but struggled to create many more clear-cut chances, with Everton happy to sit deep and hang on to their lead.

Malard came closest to levelling things up minutes before the break but the hosts managed to get to the interval with their slender advantage intact.

Blistering second half from United

However, with United starting the second half with the same intent as they started the first it was going to take a monumental defensive shift from Everton to keep the visitors at bay.

Indeed, after 15 minutes of pressure it was Malard who latched onto a fine through ball from Hinata Miyazawa. She slammed the ball home at the second time of asking after a fine initial stop from Emily Ramsey.

It was a much deserved equalizer for United, who then smelt blood and duly went onto dispatch their hosts with a blistering final half hour of play.

An unfortunate own goal from Kitagawa gave United their lead on 70 minutes with the Everton defender slicing into her own net under pressure from Malard.

United were now in full control, keeping the ball at will. With Everton’s resistance finally broken, they added two more to their tally to make them the highest scorers in the Super League this season.

Substitute Jess Park struck twice in the final moments, including the pick of the bunch with a fine strike from the edge of the area that rounded off the scoring after her deflected effort five minutes prior.

Park’s double, against her former side, represented her first goal involvements in six games and will be a welcome boost in confidence for the talented 23-year-old.

The three points leave United second in the table with Chelsea’s 1-0 win against local rivals Tottenham keeping them two points clear at the top.

The games keep coming thick and fast for Skinner’s side, who travel to Spain on Thursday to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League after their historic win against Valerenga kicked off their European campaign last week.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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