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Man Utd back up to second with win over Everton

Malard runs to celebrate scoring the winner v EvertonGetty Images

At a glance

Elisabeth Terland opens the scoring after 38 minutes

Imma Gabarro levels with header in 90th minute

Melvine Malard snatches victory with 94th-minute winner to send Manchester United into second place

Defeat leaves Everton sixth

Ciara Fleming

BBC Sport journalist

Melvine Malard's 94th-minute winner snatched victory for Manchester United against Everton to send them back into second place in the Women's Super League table.

The France international stole a march on keeper Courtney Brosnan to nod home at the near post in stoppage time and send the home crowd into raptures.

The victory for Marc Skinner's side coupled with Chelsea's draw at London City Lionesses means they leapfrog the Blues into second and are back in the driving seat in the race to secure qualification for next season's Champions League.

Visitors Everton thought they had rescued a point when Imma Gabarro headed home in the 90th minute but United mustered a final piece of quality to condemn them to a first league defeat in four.

The hosts had led since the 38th minute when Elisabeth Terland fired into the top-right corner at the second attempt to break the Everton resolve.

It had proved a frustrating afternoon for Arsenal until the opener, with fans likely fearing a repeat of the 0-0 draw at West Ham on Wednesday.

In truth, Everton had offered very little in the opening half an hour, though Zara Kramzar's fierce drive went close to stealing the lead. The January signing latched on to a loose ball after wayward passing by the United defence, before forcing Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a springing left-handed save.

Spurred on by that scare, the home side accelerated their attacking efforts, with Terland having a close-range shot blocked by Maz Pacheco before Toffees keeper Brosnan was required to smother Jess Park on the rebound.

The only thing more emphatic than Terland's thumping finish was her celebration, with her roaring in delight at having ended her six-game scoring drought for club and country.

Encouraged by the slender scoreline, the visitors offered more attacking threat in the second half. Kramzar had their best opportunity but she sent a header looping over the crossbar from five yards out.

Then Gabarro's header arrived and Everton looked like they had grinded out a share of the points.

But it wasn't to be as Malard claimed the victory that United's overall performance deserved - and the Toffees were condemned to a first league defeat under interim manager Scott Phelan's tenure.

More to follow

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Player of the match

M. Malard

7.87

Manchester United

Everton

9M. Malard

7.87

8J. Park

7.73

91P. Tullis-Joyce

7.68

10E. Terland

7.67

4M. Le Tissier

7.61

13S. Awujo

7.50

5H. Lundkvist

7.44

21M. Turner

7.42

18J. Zigiotti Olme

7.17

12F. Rolfö

7.10

57L. Drury

6.89

24L. Schüller

6.83

16L. Naalsund

6.61

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10Inma Gabarro

6.00

21Z. Kramžar

5.84

9T. Payne

5.83

1C. Brosnan

5.81

30R. Mace

5.78

4I. Hobson

5.77

5Martina Fernández

5.68

14M. Lawley

5.58

18Ornella Vignola

5.54

29Y. Momiki

5.52

22A. Galli

5.48

33M. Pacheco

5.46

8R. van Gool

5.36

11K. Gago

5.33

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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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