The latest news from both Manchester United and Manchester City women as both teams returned to WSL action over the weekend.
Comments
Sport
Manchester United players celebrate against Leicester City
Manchester United players celebrate against Leicester City(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire.)
The Women’s Super League (WSL) returned last weekend after the international break with both Manchester United and Manchester City back in action.
United kicked off the action in Sunday’s early kick-off and came out as 2-0 winners over Leicester City at Leigh Sports Village. City also picked up all three points, goals from Vivianne Miedema and Aoba Fujino giving them a 2-1 win over Tottenham.
Eyes are now on the FA Cup quarter-finals with both teams in action. United host Sunderland on Sunday (5.15pm kick-off) while City host Aston Villa on the same day (12.30pm kick-off).
As part of the Manchester Evening News’ weekly women’s football notebook, here’s a look at the latest from the world of women’s football around Manchester over the last week.
Title race on?
Manchester United picked up all three points over the weekend with goals from Melvine Malard and Leah Galton giving them a 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Women’s Super League. The win moved United to within four points of leaders Chelsea.
Just a few hours later, the Blues dropped points for only the second time this season when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton and Hove Albion.
United would have been watching closely on Wednesday night when Chelsea hosted Leicester City, the Foxes were the only other team to take points off Sonia Bompastor’s team so far this season thanks to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
Chelsea however took a 2-0 lead early in the second half with Catarina Macario and Aggie Beever-Jones getting the goals. Yuka Momiki did give Leicester some hope of a comeback, but that was ended when Erin Cuthbert made it 3-1 in the 86th minute.
The win moved Chelsea eight points ahead of United in the table, but Mark Skinner’s side do now have a game in hand over the leaders.
Late drama for City
Man City were also in action on Wednesday night as they took on West Ham United away. Bunny Shaw may have thought she had won the game for City when she struck to make it 1-0 in the 80th minute.
But there was more drama to come. Manuela Pavi equalised for West Ham in the first minute of stoppage time, meaning City had to settle for a point from the game.
The result leaves them in fourth place in the table, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and one point behind Arsenal in third, although the Gunners do now have a game in hand.
City are back in action on Sunday when they take on Aston Villa in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Man United injury update
An injury update has been given on several players who were absent from the United squad for the WSL win over Leicester. Elisabeth Terland, Jayde Riviere, Simi Awujo, Anna Sandberg and Lisa Naalsund were all left out of the squad for the game, with Skinner giving an update after full-time.
"Teri (Terland) took a small break to her wrist, but you can manage these things with splints and so on. We're hopeful she can potentially come back over the next couple of weeks," he said.
“Jayde was a muscle injury. She played two games back-to-back [for Canada] and you’ve got to look at loading, which is disappointing for us. Simi took a knock in training, which again happens. But, for me, it's about ensuring they come back."
It was also confirmed that Sandberg missed the game through a sickness bug, with it also hoped that Naalsund will be available ‘very soon’.
Unusual fixture quirk
Following the FA Cup clash against Villa, City have a fixture quirk which must surely be a first. The team face Chelsea four times in a row over the next couple of weeks, with fixtures coming in three different competitions.
First is the League Cup final at Pride Park on Saturday, 15 March at 12.15pm. The sides then meet again three days later, on Wednesday 19 March, for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at the Joie Stadium (8pm kick-off).
Four days later the same fixture takes place at the same venue, but this time it’s in the WSL. Kick on is at 2.30pm on 23 March.
Article continues below
IThe final meeting comes on 27th March at 8pm, in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. That match will take place at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.
You can order March's edition of Women's Football News by clicking here.