A brace from Elisabeth Terland and a late header from Grace Clinton kept Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League title race.
United’s Terland netted in the ninth minute after an error from Palace goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari, before Mille Gejl equalised in the 38th minute. After the break, Terland put her side back in front with a simple finish in the 64th minute and Clinton’s header five minutes from time sealed United’s sixth consecutive victory.
After the day’s other games, Palace are four points adrift of safety and United seven points off leaders Chelsea
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Manchester United started strongly, with the linkup between Clinton and Jayde Riviere on the right showing serious potential. Though Palace didn’t take the pressure lying down, it took only nine minutes for United to take the lead. Majasaari delivered a sloppy goalkick straight to Clinton, who linked up with Hinata Miyazawa. The in-form Japanese midfielder assisted Terland for her sixth league goal of the season, a left footed strike into the bottom corner.
The Norwegian had an opportunity to double their lead when she struck the post in the 15th minute, but the rest of the half saw United lack composure in their finishing. Though they caused plenty of disarray in Palace’s defence, the Red Devils‘ efforts ended up either in the hands of Majasaari or missing the Palace goal entirely. The visitors responded well to going behind early, with several last-ditch defensive manouevres keeping United’s lead to one.
They were rewarded for their resilience with an equaliser against the run of play. Mille Gejl latched onto Lily Woodham’s ball over the top and managed a rare finish past United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the 28th minute. It was only United’s sixth goal conceded all season and gave Palace hope of pulling off an upset in the second half.
Everything was to play for, but both teams were lacklustre for the first fifteen minutes after the break. United’s chances often came from Palace mistakes, in particular from goalkeeper Majasaari.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited retook the lead in the 64th minute when Dominique Janssen headed a Palace goal kick to Clinton. Her pass deflected off the foot of Palace’s My Cato , delivering a near-perfect inadvertent assist to Terland. With another left-footed strike, this time straight down the centre of the goal, she put the home side back in front.
Marc Skinner used United’s bench to good effect, continuing to build momentum as substitutes Celin Bizet (on for Miyazawa in the 73rd minute) and Anna Sandberg (on for Gabby George in the 63rd minute) combined for a chance, Bizet narrowly heading Sandberg’s ball wide in the 78th minute.
Just seven minutes later, Clinton cemented United victory. She got on the end of a free kick from Ella Toone, who had been dangerous all game on her 100th United start, and headed it across the face of the goal and into the top left corner – Clinton’s fifth goal this season.
Palace’s 11th straight game without a win leaves them dead last in the WSL table, having won only six points from 14 matches and conceded 38 goals. United kept their 100% record against newly promoted teams and unbeaten streak at home this season – but should have had a much more convincing first half performance against the relegation strugglers.
The lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Miyazawa, Janssen, Toone; Clinton, Terland, Galton
CRY: Majasaari; Veje, Swaby, Green, Riley; Woodham, Gejl, Cato, Potter; Weerden, Larisey
