City held by United in derby draw | OneFootball

Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United in the final derby of 2024/25, confirming a fourth-placed finish.

The Blues needed a win to take the race with United for the third and final European spot to the final day, and stormed into a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to wonderful efforts from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak.

But Grace Clinton pulled a goal back for Marc Skinner’s side before the break, before substitute Melvine Malard equalised with just over 20 minutes remaining at Old Trafford.

The hosts were down to ten when Aoife Mannion received a second yellow card soon after, but the goal City battled so hard for evaded us – meaning we’ll miss out on European football in 2025/26.

WHAT HAPPENED

City entered our penultimate fixture of the season aiming to take the breathless battle for the final Champions League qualification spot to the final day of the term with victory on enemy territory - and we were given a pre-match boost at Old Trafford.

Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood made their returns to the starting line-up with Aoba Fujino, Jill Roord and Laura Blindkilde Brown fit enough for a place among the substitutes.

But it was United who started the brigther, with Khiara Keating punching the ball away from Elisabeth Terland who was waiting to pounce after a dangerous cross into the City box.

Cushing was forced to shuffle his pack soon after when Leila Ouahabi was forced off after a crunching collision with Celin Bizet and was replaced by Knaak.

After a small pause in play, the hosts thought they'd caught City cold when Hinata Miyawaza chipped the ball to the back post where Terland headed home, but the referee adjudged the forward to have pushed Aleixandri and gave the Blues a foul.

This seemed to inject fresh focus and energy into City and we came close on two occasions – the first saw Greenwood’s pinpoint cross from the left met at the near post by Kerolin Nicoli, whose poke forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce to get down low and turn the ball around the post.

Following our first real clear-cut chance, we were able to occupy the final third and as a result, Knaak met a cross from the right and planted her header just wide of the post.

After growing into the game, the visitors finished the first half the more positive and the instigators of chances.

Keating’s ball over the top allowed Kerolin Nicoli to drive into the box before she was expertly ushered out by Maya Le Tissier, who had prodded the ball out for a corner, but City were undoubtedly the team on top.

Kerstin Casparij went close from the resultant set play, sending a vicious attempt whistling just wide of the left corner of bar and post.

With the intriguing Champions League narrative adding to the contest at Old Trafford, the match was being played on a knife’s edge with both teams cancelling out the other's threats.

That was until the sky-blue touch paper was lit with just over five minutes remaining in the first half by an unlikely source.

When a neat City move saw Hemp slide the ball back into Aleixandri, the Spain international coolly shifted the ball onto her right foot and beautifully curled into the bottom right corner for her first of the season.

The Blues then had our tails up and doubled our lead shortly after when Yui Hasegawa’s curling corner was powerfully headed into the net by Knaak, as she repeated the feat of netting against our neighbours as she did in January’s reverse fixture at the Etihad.

However, Cushing’s side were well aware of the threat Clinton possessed after her dynamic display in the FA Cup semi-final defeat in the previous Manchester derby, and the midfielder pulled a goal back for the hosts on the cusp of half-time with a header of her own.

The nine minutes of stoppage time allowed City to take the sting out of United’s momentum before the second half, and we restarted the match well with Kerolin Nicoli producing a sublime nutmeg on Anna Sandberg before teeing up Hemp, whose effort was held by Tullis-Joyce.

United began to ramp up the pressure and the Blues were dropping deep, but the hosts equalised with just over 20 minutes remaining when Malard and Terland combined, sending the former into the box before she dispatched low into the net.

There was to be an immediate twist however, when Mannion was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for pulling down Kerolin Nicoli on halfway.

It meant City had the final quarter of the derby with an extra player on the field to keep our season and European ambitions alive.

United, though, understandably went into their defensive shell in order to preserve their precious point with Laura Coombs' attempt from range flying just over the bar.

As the clock ticked down, we were the side applying immense pressure and Kerolin Nicoli collected the ball on the left, cut onto her right and whipped an effort just wide of the far post.

Despite our efforts, the goal we pushed just didn't arrive as the shares were spoiled - meaning we'll finish fourth this season.

HOW WE LINED UP

City were boosted by the returns of Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp to the starting XI who had returned from injury against Leicester in our previous outing.

Greenwood was at the centre of defence with Gracie Prior with Kerstin Casparij and Leila Ouahabi at fullback – and the four were protecting Khiara Keating’s goal.

Our midfield was anchored by Laia Aleixandri with Yui Hasegawa and Laura Coombs slightly more advanced in the engine room.

Kerolin Nicoli led the line with Hemp on the left wing and Jess Park on the right.

City XI: Keating, Casparij, Prior, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi (Knaak 10’), Aleixandri, Hasegawa, Coombs, Park, Hemp (Roord 65'), Kerolin Nicoli.

Substitutes: Yamashita, Layzell, Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown, Fujino, Oyama, Murphy.

Manchester United XI: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, George (Sandberg 46’), Le Tissier, Toone (Janssen 73'), Clinton, Galton, Riviere (Mannion 29’), Bizet (Malard 63'), Terland, Miyazawa, Turner.

Substitutes: Rendell, Middleton-Patel, Awujo, Naalsund, Griffiths.

WHAT IT MEANS

The draw at Old Trafford confirms our place in fourth this season with one match remaining of the campaign.

It means we'll miss out on European football next season.

WHAT'S NEXT

City’s final assignment of the season is the WSL visit of Crystal Palace to the Joie Stadium on Saturday 10 May, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 (UK).