By Catherine MacKenzie (28/08/2025)
Above: Manchester United celebrate beating PSV. Photo: ManUtdWomen on X.
Dutch champions FC Twente and second-place PSV were both in action on Wednesday evening, in the second round of UWCL qualifiers. PSV had the tougher duel, with England’s Manchester United their opponent, whilst Twente faced Serbian opponents ZFK Crvena zvezda.
Manchester United 4 – 0 PSV
PSV will not be a familiar opponent for many English viewers, however they have become a strong team domestically. Last season in the Eredivisie, they pushed dominant Twente to the last day of the title race, only losing on goal difference. They have experienced internationals in their team, such as the Netherlands’ Renate Jansen, Switzerland’s Riola Xhemaili and Belgian keeper Nicky Evrard.
United have been experimenting with formation in pre-season friendlies, with Leah Galton and Celin Bizet switching sides at points, with the wingbacks pushing very high up the pitch. This trend continued; Swedish Anna Sandberg came in for Gabby George, and Dominique Janssen and Jade Riviere switched places at times as United switched between a back three and a back two.
Lisa Naalsund slotted into midfield alongside Ella Toone and Hinata Miyazawa, and the trio offered a balance that United were missing at times last season. New signing Julia Zigiotti Olme formed the right side of a front three alongside Celin Bizet and Elisabeth Terland.
For PSV, the biggest team news was that veteran keeper Nicky Evrard was on the bench. The 30-year-old has been a strong presence in the PSV backline that only conceded 13 goals in 22 games last season – and with the number of defensive changes in personnel, her exclusion came as a surprise.
United were dominant from the first minute, with Terland opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Bizet made it two before half-time, Terland added a third just after and then a fourth around the hour mark to complete the hattrick.
Terland has often put the work in and unselfishly created space in the attacking third for her teammates, so her hattrick was nice to see. Ella Toone also had a hattrick of assists, continuing her stellar form in 2025 and giving head coach Marc Skinner a headache over team selection.
For PSV, their one major chance only served to produce an impressive save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, as Chimera Ripa used some excellent technical footwork to create a chance for herself. They will have the chance to compete in the Europa league this season, facing Ukranian opposition in WFC Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv.
For United, a meeting with Hammarby awaits. They are guaranteed European football this season, be it in the UWCL or the new Europa league.
FC Twente 6 – 0 ZFK Crvena zvezda
Whilst many questioned Jill Roord’s move from Manchester City to FC Twente earlier this summer, the Dutch team did offer something City could not: the potential of European football. The reigning Dutch champions were in good form coming into UWCL qualifying, having pipped PSV to the Supercup last weekend, and are under a new manager in Corina Dekker following the successful reign of Joran Pot.
Twente lined up largely as expected, with Roord in the number 10 role behind Jaimy Ravensbergen – last Eredivisie season’s top scorer. Whilst Twente had not been in electrifying goal scoring form during pre-season, there is a relationship developing between the two, which was on display against zvezda.
The first half was relatively slow, with few chances for either side. Twente looked rather disjointed – perhaps to be expected. At times it seemed like the team implsively wanted to get the ball to Roord, regardless of her position or preparedness for the ball. This waned after half-time, and Ravensbergen opened the scoring on the hour mark.
This was followed by a strike from Roord in the 78th minute, and the floodgates opened, with four more goals coming in quick succession from Alieke Tuin, Roord again, Sophie Proost, and Eva Oude Elberink.
Twente move on to the next round where they will face Iceland’s Breioablik Kopavogur, whilst zvezda face the Irish Athlone Town FC for a spot in the Europa league.
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