Manchester United 2-2 Manchester City: Reds pip rivals to Champions Legue qualification | OneFootball

Manchester United secured Champions League qualification with a 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Marc Skinner’s side only needed a point to secure a top-three finish and Champions League qualification for only the second time in their history, but their rivals made it difficult.

City took a 2-0 lead in the first half through Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak, before a header from Grace Clinton gave United a lifeline just before half time. Substitute Melvine Malard netted the equaliser midway through the second half, but Aoife Mannion’s second yellow card a moment later set up a nervy finish at Old Trafford. However, backs-to-the-wall defending got United their much-needed point and a European place.

As it happened

United dominated a nervy opening and had a goal disallowed ten minutes in, with Elisabeth Terland judged to have fouled Laia Aleixandri before she headed in Hinata Miyazawa’s cross. City began to find their feet after that wake-up call and would have gone ahead through Kerolin Nicoli’s close-range effort without an excellent diving save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

However, the forced withdrawal of an injured Jayde Riviere on the half-hour mark shook United’s usually solid defence and threw the game open. In the 38th minute, Kerolin muscled away from Millie Turner to drive through United’s half, before poor marking on the edge of the box allowed Lauren Hemp to pick out Aleixandri, who curled home an excellent finish.

City capitalised on their rivals’ shakiness to try to drive the knife in before halftime and lax marking allowed Rebecca Knaak a bullet header from Yui Hasegawa’s corner in the 42nd minute, doubling City’s lead. United looked shell-shocked, but Grace Clinton replied with a header of her own, turning in Aoife Mannion’s lofted cross in the 45th minute.

After the restart, United lacked the quality in the final third to find an equaliser, but Marc Skinner’s introduction of Melvine Malard in the 64th minute proved shrewd. Just four minutes after coming on, the Frenchwoman wriggled free of her marker to run onto Terland’s flicked header and strike first time past Khiara Keating, drawing United level.

However, United’s all-important point was in jeopardy a minute later. Mannion, already booked in first-half stoppage time, fouled Kerolin to see red and hand City a player advantage for the final 20 minutes.

City attacked relentlessly, and almost went ahead in spectacular fashion through Kerolin in the 85th minute when the Brazilian found herself in space and fired a long-range effort just past the far post. Last-ditch tackles from Leah Galton, Millie Turner, and a handful of strong claims from Tullis-Joyce saw United over the line; even an emergency appearance in the attacking box from goalkeeper Keating couldn’t get City a winner.

The result means United secure European football with one league game remaining, while City cannot qualify.

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