Getty/GOAL
Manchester United came from behind to win in convincing fashion as Everton were put to the sword 4-1 in the first Women's Super League fixture to take place at Hill Dickinson Stadium, largely thanks to goals by Melvine Malard and substitute Jess Park. The Toffees had taken the lead in the first half through Honoka Hayashi, but Malard equalised before Hikaru Kitagawa put through her own net to turn the game around. It would then be Park who sealed the day with two strikes off the bench.
United remain unbeaten and right on the coat-tails of Chelsea at the top of the WSL after the victory, which takes Marc Skinner's side to four victories and two draws from the opening weeks of the season. In front of a crowd of 18,154, United got the victory their overall performance deserved to follow up their win over Valerenga in their first-ever Women's Champions League match in midweek.
The Red Devils came out of the traps strongly and took the game to their hosts, Lisa Naalsund skying the ball over following smart play by Malard and Elisabeth Terland after mere seconds. The latter duo were a part of many of United's best moves in the first half, as they created chances at will but could not quite find a decisive opening goal. Fridolina Rolfo struck narrowly wide at the near post from Terland's cut-back, while the same pair switched roles but the Norwegian striker flashed a header across the face of goal.
Malard saw an acrobatic overhead kick deflected from close range, forcing the best from Emily Ramsey who reacted quickly to keep it out. Just minutes later, Everton had scored against the run of play at the other end. Anna Sandberg conceded a cheap free-kick and United defenders were slow to react when the delivery was punched clear, Hayashi stepping forward to power home the loose ball and open the scoring.
United threatened an equaliser just before the break, Terland and Ella Toone coming close but to no avail. It would ultimately be a slice of luck which got United level, as the ever-dangerous Malard got in behind but saw her initial shot saved, gratefully firing home the rebound. From then on, the visitors pushed for a winner.
Malard had a role in Hirakawa's unfortunate own goal, as the French striker put pressure on the full-back, who had already had a difficult day at the office and sliced the ball into her own net. Substitute Park would then have the final say with two goals from two Toone assists, the first thanks to another slice of luck from a deflection. But there was nothing lucky about her second goal and United's fourth, as Park whipped the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box to put the cherry on the cake of another statement victory.
**GOAL** rates Manchester United's players from Hill Dickinson Stadium...