Manchester City Women vs Manchester United Women
FA WSL
3:00pm Saturday 7th September
Etihad Stadium
Caroline Weir’s magnificent 25-yard strike sealed a historical derby victory for Manchester City in front of a listing Women’s Super League bunch of 31,213 at the Etihad Stadium.
Weir’s left-footed taken from beyond the box but just after Manchester United, who commanded the first half for extended periods, came agonisingly close to snatching a lure.
City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck saved brilliantly to refuse Jane Ross ahead of the rest, then was fortunate to see a Jackie Groenen effort bounce straight off the base of a post and into her arms.
Featuring after cruising last year, the side of Casey Stoney failed to indicate they can be a force this season.
Having survived an early scare when’keeper Mary Earps fought to clear a loose back-pass, the people – cheered on with a sizeable contingent in a bunch which dwarfed 5,265’s preceding WSL list at Brighton last season – rose to the challenge.
Only a superb, twisting save from Roebuck prevented Ross from opening the scoring at the 22nd minute if she caught from Leah Galton on the conclusion of a cross for United.
City defender Gemma Bonner made a critical interception to deny Ross another shooting chance Ross and Groenen just neglected to squeeze the ball on the line.
Nick Cushing’s City facet, intent on wresting back the WSL title from Arsenal, looked short and sluggish on ideas before dawn in the first period, when Weir and Janine Beckie equally carved out half-chances.
Nevertheless, it was a different story after the break as City started to dominate when Weir let fly with a shot from beyond the box and they grabbed the lead within three minutes from the restart.
Beckie fired on the bar overlooked a further opportunity after hurrying over half the amount of the pitch at a lightning counter-attack, only to miscue her attempt.
The side of stoney seemed to wilt as City completely dominated the last half hour pinning the visitors back in their own half.
City almost doubled their advantage once the Beckie played with a from Tessa Wullaert screwed a shot that was rising over the bar from a tight angle and the box.
However there was time for United to come close to snatching a point once Groenen was found in the City box.
As she tried her first shot, despite stumbling, the Dutch striker trickled an attempt which defeat Roebuck but rebounded off the foot of back and a post into the alleviated’keeper’s arms.
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