City exit World Sevens at semi-final stage | OneFootball

City exited the World Sevens Football tournament at the semi-final stage following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Goals either side of half-time from Melvine Malard and Gabby George sealed the win for Marc Skinner's side and we'll now compete in the third-place play-off as a result.

The opening exchanges were somewhat cagey with neither team wanting to give their cross-city rivals an early advantage but Leah Galton drilled just wide from the edge of the area in the first opening of the last-four tie.

That opportunity though brought United up the pitch and Melvine Malard opened the scoring when she flicked the ball onto her right foot and smashed an unstoppable effort into the top right corner.

Khiara Keating was called into action shortly after when she did fantastically well to react quickly to prevent a shot from close range doubling our opponents’ lead.

Our goalkeeper was certainly the busier of the two stoppers in the first half and she then did well to save Malard’s stinging drive on the cusp of half-time.

Following the break the match continued in a similar fashion and Naomi Layzell to did well to heroically block a Galton shot off the line.

City then went in search for a route back into the semi-final and Aoba Fujino did well to find Jess Park with a precise diagonal, but the England international was smothered just before she could fire at goal.

With the Blues committing players forward, United almost caught us on the break with Grace Clinton slamming an effort off the bar but Gabby George did find their second goal in the closing stages.

The Estoril sun continued to beat down and appeared to sap the remaining energy from both teams as out World Sevens quest came to an end at the semi-final stage.

But we will have the chance to finish third when we play Paris Saint Germain this evening in the play-off.

HOW WE LINED UP

Keating’s goal was protected by a defensive duo of Laura Wienroither and Gracie Prior while our midfield and attack consisted of Laura Coombs, Aoba Fujino, Jess Park and Kerolin Nicoli.

As throughout the tournament's entirety, rolling substitutes were used throughout.

City: Keating, Wienroither, Prior, Coombs, Fujino, Park, Kerolin Nicoli.

Substitutes: Layzell, Pritchard, Blindkilde Brown, Oyama, Thomas, Murphy, Davies

WHAT IT MEANS

The defeat means we have been eliminated from the World Sevens Football tournament at the semi-final stage, meaning we will contest a third-place play-off.

WHAT'S NEXT

City will face Paris Saint Germain in the third-place play off at 18:30 (UK) this evening.