Jess Park produced an excellent show as Manchester Metropolis beat rivals Manchester United to maintain up their Ladies’s Tremendous League title chase.
England ahead Park, 22, scored twice and assisted one for Khadija Shaw as Metropolis brushed apart their neighbours at Etihad Stadium to maneuver three factors away from Chelsea on the prime of the desk for not less than a day.
United’s hopes of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League have all however evaporated with the defeat as they path third-placed Arsenal by six factors, with the Gunners nonetheless to play Aston Villa on Sunday.
It was a harmful afternoon for United not simply by way of the outcome but in addition for his or her delight as rivals Metropolis, although not at their greatest, had been ruthless in entrance of purpose and left the Etihad as comfy winners.
Park’s opener ought to have been dominated out for offside by Shaw within the build-up nevertheless it was allowed to face within the absence of a video assistant referee, because the midfielder volleyed house Leila Ouahabi’s cross.
She doubled Metropolis’s lead eight minutes later – celebrating in entrance of United’s away followers within the nook on each events – and inside seconds of the restart slid a go via for Shaw to position her effort previous goalkeeper Mary Earps.
United responded later within the second half when Hannah Blundell’s cross was deflected into the far nook by Metropolis defender Kerstin Casparij, however the guests couldn’t get again into the sport.
Metropolis, who’re chasing a primary WSL title since 2016, have equalled Chelsea’s purpose distinction, however Emma Hayes’ aspect will return to the highest on Sunday in the event that they beat West Ham.
Park masterclass offers main setback to United
With England supervisor Sarina Wiegman among the many 40,086 watching on, Park loved a massively profitable afternoon in Manchester.
The midfielder, now an everyday in Metropolis’s aspect following the anterior cruciate ligament harm to record-signing Jill Roord, proved her credentials as one of many nation’s most fun abilities with a mature show.
She compelled a robust save out of goalkeeper Earps halfway via the primary half after United had threatened, with Brazilian Geyse getting the higher of Ouahabi down the right-hand aspect.
Possibilities had come and gone for the guests – Nikita Parris was denied by Khiara Keating earlier than Geyse stabbed extensive – and Park’s strike from distance was the primary actual alternative for Metropolis.
That was the catalyst Gareth Taylor’s aspect wanted and so they started to settle, testing Earps once more via Yui Hasegawa earlier than Park’s fast double put them within the driving seat.
United’s frustration at Shaw’s position in Park’s opener was justified however the Jamaican had a purpose disallowed for offside moments later when she poked in a deflected rebound.
Shaw had earlier gone down claiming a foul from Blundell, with the United defender already on a yellow card.
Shaw then dealt a significant blow along with her cool end within the second half and it means she has overtaken England midfielder Georgia Stanway as Metropolis’s all-time file scorer within the WSL period (68 objectives).
United, to their credit score, didn’t quit within the second half however they’d left themselves an excessive amount of to do and whereas Metropolis should wait to see Chelsea’s response on Sunday, Marc Skinner’s aspect will probably be hoping fifth-placed Liverpool do not overtake them.
It’s the newest blow in a disappointing marketing campaign for United, whereas Metropolis look increasingly more able to ending Chelsea’s WSL dominance.
Line-ups
Man Metropolis Ladies
Formation 4-3-3
- 35Keating
- 18Casparij
- 33Kennedy
- 5Greenwood
- 15OuahabiSubstituted forMorganat 87′minutes
- 16Park
- 25Hasegawa
- 7CoombsSubstituted forAngeldahlat 83′minutes
- 8Fowler
- 21Shaw
- 11Hemp
Substitutes
- 3Stokes
- 6Houghton
- 9Kelly
- 12Angeldahl
- 14Morgan
- 17Pritchard
- 19Blindkilde Brown
- 22MacIver
- 30Mace
Man Utd Ladies
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27Earps
- 14RiviereSubstituted forMannionat 57′minutes
- 4Le Tissier
- 21Turner
- 6BlundellBooked at 21mins
- 10Zelem
- 16Naalsund
- 23da Silva FerreiraBooked at 90mins
- 7TooneSubstituted forMalardat 85′minutes
- 17García
- 22ParrisSubstituted forWilliamsat 58′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Mannion
- 8Guerrero
- 9Malard
- 12Ladd
- 15Evans
- 25Rabjohn
- 28Williams
- 36Aherne
- 91Tullis-Joyce
- Referee:
- Abigail Byrne
- Attendance:
- 40,086
Reside Textual content
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Match ends, Manchester Metropolis Ladies 3, Manchester United Ladies 1.
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Second Half ends, Manchester Metropolis Ladies 3, Manchester United Ladies 1.
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Try missed. Khadija Shaw (Manchester Metropolis Ladies) proper footed shot from the centre of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Mary Fowler.
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Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester Metropolis Ladies) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Rachel Williams (Manchester United Ladies).
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Foul by Khadija Shaw (Manchester Metropolis Ladies).
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Katie Zelem (Manchester United Ladies) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Offside, Manchester United Ladies. Millie Turner is caught offside.
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Try saved. Millie Turner (Manchester United Ladies) header from the centre of the field is saved within the backside proper nook. Assisted by Maya Le Tissier with a cross.
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Nook, Manchester United Ladies. Conceded by Alanna Kennedy.
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Geyse (Manchester United Ladies) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Lauren Hemp (Manchester Metropolis Ladies) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Geyse (Manchester United Ladies).
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Kerstin Casparij (Manchester Metropolis Ladies) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Rachel Williams (Manchester United Ladies).
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Lauren Hemp (Manchester Metropolis Ladies) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Melvine Malard (Manchester United Ladies).
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Substitution, Manchester Metropolis Ladies. Esme Morgan replaces Leila Ouahabi.
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Hand ball by Rachel Williams (Manchester United Ladies).
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Nook, Manchester United Ladies. Conceded by Leila Ouahabi.