Elisabeth Terland hat-trick takes Manchester United into Women’s Champions League | OneFootball

Manchester United reached the main draw of the Women’s Champions League for the first time after an Elisabeth Terland hat-trick helped them overturn a first-leg deficit to deservedly eliminate the Norwegian side Brann in the third qualifying round.

Terland netted a so-called perfect hat-trick, scoring with her right foot after earlier doing so with her left and nodding in a header, to ensure Marc Skinner’s team will be included in Friday’s draw for the new, 18-team league phase of the competition, along with Chelsea and the holders Arsenal. It was Terland’s second hat-trick in this competition already this term after just four European qualifying fixtures, the clinical forward having also scored a treble against PSV in August.

United had come into the second leg at home at Leigh Sports Village trailing 1-0 on aggregate after a bizarre episode in the first leg in Bergen, when they somehow lost several of the boots in transit and were forced to hastily purchase new ones, and succumbed to a late Brann goal against the run of play. They have still not located the missing boots but certainly rediscovered their form in front of goal as they made a quick start.

The hosts capitalised on some sloppy Brann defending to feed Terland and she lashed home the opening goal inside nine minutes with a ruthless first-time strike. She doubled the lead on the night and nudged United ahead on aggregate when she headed into the top corner from a difficult angle soon afterwards.

With Jess Park in a lively mood and full-backs Anna Sandberg and Jayde Riviere both in strong form, the home side dominated the game and created plenty of first-half chances without adding further goals. Just as the visitors began to slowly get back into the contest and enjoy some territory inside the Manchester United half after the break, Terland clinched the tie on the counterattack as she combined with Melvine Malard and then slotted in a low finish, before celebrating in front of the delighted home supporters.

That took the confident Norway striker’s tally up to seven goals in four European games this term, and her eighth in all competitions, and it means Brann – who are managed by the former Crystal Palace manager Leif Smerud – drop into the new secondary women’s European competition, the Europa Cup.

United went close to scoring more goals but Fridolina Rolfö, one of their summer signings, rifled just over the bar after coming on as a substitute. She demonstrated her skillset with some good touches, to impress the home supporters after her summer arrival from Barcelona.

The primary note of concern for Skinner’s team came when Riviere, one of their best performers so far this term, had to be withdrawn with a potential injury. The Canada right-back hobbled off with around 12 minutes remaining. By then, the English side were coasting through and their supporters were chanting “we’re all going on a European tour”.

In United’s solitary previous Women’s Champions League campaign, they were knocked out during the qualifying phase by Paris Saint-Germain two years ago. Now they could face teams such as the record eight-time European champions OL Lyonnes, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, as they join the elite stage of the competition for the first time. They will learn their opponents in Friday’s 11am draw ceremony, which is being streamed live on Disney+. The format has been changed and is now similar to the men’s league format where teams play different teams in one league table, rather than facing the same opponents home and away in groups.

Header image: [Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters]