Manchester United 2 – 2 Manchester City
Above: Manchester United celebrate. Photo: @ManUtdWomen on X.
Manchester United welcomed their local rivals Manchester City to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in a vital match in the race to the top three of the Women’s Super League. In this collaboation between Impetus contributors, Manchester United fan Catherine MacKenzie and City fan Gethin Thurlow break down the game and consider where the result leaves their teams….
The context
Manchester United finished last season in fifth place, out of contention for the Champions League qualifying stages. City finished second, equal on points with champions Chelsea but behind on goal difference.
Despite a blockbuster win against reigning champions Barcelona in the Autumn, City were eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League after injuries ravaged their squad depth.
United have had a stronger 2024-25 season and would cement the all-important third place WSL finish with a point against City. To have the opportunity to usurp the Red Devils and poach third place, City needed a win against them.
City’s previous game was a narrow one-nil win over Leicester City, buoyed by the return of long-term injured duo Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp. United faced a Chelsea who would be crowned champions with a win; the blues managed a late winner in Manchester to wrap up the league title.
The action
United started the game strongly and had an early goal from Elisabeth Terland ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Combined with the stop-start nature of the game (which saw major injuries to City’s Leila Ouahabi and United’s Jade Riviere), this gave the visitors the momentum. City took the lead as Lauren Hemp crossed into Laia Aleixandri, who shot home.
Minutes later, City defender (and substitute for the injured Ouahabi) Rebecca Knaak headed home from a Yui Hasegawa corner.
City were not two ahead for long, however, thanks to another early substitute. Aoife Mannion had come on in the 29th minute for the injured Jade Riviere, and she put in a sublime ball which Grace Clinton slotted home to give United a lifeline.
Melvine Malard was introduced on the hour mark, equalising five minutes later through a team goal that started with Tullis-Joyce and included touches from Maya Le Tissier, Aoife Mannion and Elisabeth Terland.
The latter stages of the second half were tense as both teams gave their all in the quest for Champions League football; United needed to maintain the draw, and City needed to get the winner.
Alex Greenwood was shown a yellow for a frustrated foul, and Mannion was sent off after receiving her second. The home side faced the last fifteen minutes a player down, however a tenacious display from the backline managed to limit City to a handful of strong chances despite mounting pressure.
The game ended with a draw, cementing United’s Champions League ambitions and leaving City four points behind in fourth.
The fan POV: Manchester United
By Catherine MacKenzie
This game felt important on a number of fronts: the potential for Champions League football next year, facing a City who are rejuvenated with the return of England internationals Hemp and Greenwood.
The game was also played at Old Trafford, in front of a powerful crowd of over 30,000, a far cry from the 12,000 who attended the opening game of the season against West Ham.
Most important was the potential to cement Champions League football for next season. Head coach Marc Skinner has consistently suggested that his primary aim for the season was to achieve third place.
To the fans, the club’s ambitions were tempered by last summer’s exodus of players and comments from new majority-owner Sir Jim Radcliffe suggesting he did not take the club’s women seriously – which were reinforced by actions such as moving the women into temporary portacabins whilst the men’s facilities were being revamped.
Cementing the Champions League for next season has been seen as a way of celebrating a team that has been known to ‘go under the radar’ this season – particularly defensively, as the team leads the way in terms of WSL clean sheets and have only conceded 12 goals, one less than champions Chelsea.
However, against City it was the midfield that made the difference. United’s midfield – Grace Clinton, Hinata Miyazawa, Ella Toone, and later Dominique Janssen – were instrumental in both defensive solidity and offensive transitions.
Clinton’s work off the ball allowed her to contribute both defensively and offensively, while Miyazawa’s technicality provided balance.
Toone, operating in a more advanced role, showcased her creativity and vision, contributing to United’s attacking transitions. Janssen was introduced following Mannion’s red card, likely for her ability to control the direction of play and calmness on the ball.
United needed Janssen’s experience in the closing stages, when City were throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the United goal. A calming presence that has been through many international tournaments and big games for VfL Wolfsburg and Arsenal, United will need more figures like Janssen to compete in the Champions League next year.
Skinner alluded to this after the game:
“We saw City drop off because of injuries. In order to go into the depths of the Champions League, or even out of the qualifying rounds….we’ve got to have that depth. We have good depth but we need a little bit more. Hopefully it opens that market for us. When we have recruitment calls, it’s all about if you get Champions League, if you get Champions League….”
It is not common that a draw in the Manchester derby can be celebrated; however today, the promise of Europe next season means United fans will be celebrating that result as if they had trounced their rivals 5-0. Speaking post-match, Skinner suggested the same:
“…to go 2 nil down to then come back and to go down to ten players….to see the game out absolutely feels like a win.”
The fan POV: Manchester City
By Gethin Thurlow
For City, It was another tough blow in a brutal season dominated by injuries to key players.
Going into the game, there was an increasing sense of optimism among the fans. The last week felt like it was coming together – Hemp and Greenwood returning last Sunday, and Chelsea beating United midweek to keep the gap at four points.
Whilst it was not at all guaranteed that United would fail to beat Arsenal on the final day; there was a definite feeling that a victory would’ve put third place firmly in City’s grip.
Losing the potential for third in such a way – after holding a 2-0 is particularly brutal, and City’s lack of ability to manage the game until half time was ultimately their undoing.
You could also argue that not taking advantage of the extra player was costly, but it was always going to be an uphill battle with United crowding the box and going all out for a draw by this point.
A controversial tactical tweak that did not pay off was pushing Greenwood out to left back when Leila Ouahabi went off injured, with Rebecca Knaak taking up the left centre back role.
Usually, Ouahabi provides an overlap while Hemp cuts inside and can cross beautifully, whereas Greenwood lacks the pace to do this, and her positioning and solidity is missed in the middle.
With Knaak often being dragged out of position, perhaps City could have instead turned to Layzell or Wienrother on the bench and moved Casparij to the left, as was so successful against Barcelona back in October.
To miss out on a Champions League place goes beyond the initial heartbreak and even further than ‘we won’t get Champions League nights next year’. It makes City a much less attractive option for players coming into England (Kerolin herself admitted that was a major reason for signing in January) and could mean an exodus of players who are sick of not winning trophies.
Ultimately, it concludes what was an unsuccessful three-month interim period for Nick Cushing – compared to the objectives set out when appointing him that is. It is harsh to judge him against these standards considering that the injury crisis got so much broader as he took the job and it is worth noting there were some significant improvements compared to Gareth Taylor’s running of the team.
Teams: MANCHESTER UNITED (4-1-4-1): Tullis-Joyce, George, Le Tissier ©, Toone, Clinton, Galton, Riviere, Bizet, Terland, Miyazawa, Turner. Substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Mannion (for Riviere 29’), Sandberg (for George 46’), Awujo, Janssen (for Toone 72’), Naalsund, Griffiths, Malard (for Bizet 63’).
Scorers: Clinton 45+8’, Malard 68’.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Keating, Casparij, Prior, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi, Aleixandri, Hasegawa, Coombs, Park, Hemp, Kerolin Nicoli. Substitutes: Yamashita, Layzell, Roord (for Hemp 65’), Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown (for Coombs 81’), Fujino (for Casparij 81’), Knaak (for Ouahabi 10’), Oyama, Murphy.
Scorers: Aleixandri 38’, Knaak 42’.
Referee: Emily Heaslip
Attendance: 31,465
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