Marc Skinner's side will be playing European football again next season after securing a top-three finish with a huge point against their city rivals
Manchester United held on with 10 players to secure a vital point on Sunday and seal their qualification for next season's Champions League, while also ending Manchester City's hopes of European football. The implications for both in their quest for a top-three finish in the Women's Super League meant it was set to be a cracking derby, and it certainly lived up to that billing, with Melvine Malard's goal from the bench clinching an eventual 2-2 draw that will see United play on the continent again for just the second time.
A red card for Aoife Mannion just moments after that strike could have proved costly, with the Red Devils having to defend stoutly to get over the line. But despite City's fantastic first-half display, in which they raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak, they couldn't make the numerical advantage count and find that winning goal.
Instead, it was a bullet header from Grace Clinton and Malard's cool finish when through on goal that completed a fantastic fight-back for Marc Skinner's side, whose goal for the WSL season is now complete. There's one more big game at Arsenal next week, in which victory would secure United a more desirable entry point to the Champions League, and then the FA Cup final, with the Red Devils hoping to cap a great campaign by defending their title.
GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (7/10):
Made a superb save to deny Kerolin in the first half. Couldn't do much about the two goals.
Jayde Riviere (6/10):
Was having a decent game until she had to limp off midway through the first half.
Maya Le Tissier (7/10):
Another strong game, with some excellent one-v-one defending to thwart Kerolin a stand-out moment.
Millie Turner (6/10):
Didn't do enough to stop Kerolin in the build-up to City's opener. Made amends with a huge block to prevent Roord scoring a late winner.
Gabby George (4/10):
Battled well generally but was sloppy on the ball and lost Knaak too easily for City's second goal. Off at half-time.
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Midfield
Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):
Was secure on the ball and battled well off it in a competitive midfield.
Grace Clinton (7/10):
Won a lot of duels and was creative in possession. Great run and header to get United back into things.
Ella Toone (5/10):
Couldn't get into the game much at all, though not for a lack of effort.
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Attack
Celin Bizet (5/10):
Moved the ball well but didn't pose much of a threat to City's defence.
Elisabeth Terland (6/10):
The value of her off-ball work was summed up well by the big header she won to put Malard through to equalise.
Leah Galton (7/10):
Struggled to get involved much in attack, but her defensive efforts were absolutely superb, especially when United went down to 10.
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Subs & Manager
Aoife Mannion (3/10):
Was having a good game after being introduced for Riviere midway through the first half, but made a needless foul to get sent off which could have cost her team dearly.
Anna Sandberg (7/10):
Played well after coming on at half-time. Kept the ball tidily and was solid in her defending.
Melvine Malard (7/10):
Made an instant impact with a cool finish just minutes after coming off the bench.
Dominique Janssen (6/10):
Came on in the slightly unfamiliar position of right-back after Mannion's red card. Did well considering it's not her best role.
Marc Skinner (7/10):
There were some eyebrows raised about his team selection given the likes of Malard and Janssen impressed at Chelsea in midweek. However, his subs made a real impact, especially considering some were made in unfavourable circumstances, and helped United get the job done.
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