Minute-by-minute report: Will Manchester United finally get their first WSL win over their rivals? Join Tom Bassam to find out.
9 min: United clear the initial corner but as the ball is hoisted back in it all gets a bit messy on the edge of box. The Jamaican striker gets to the byline on the City right and pulls the ball back for Chloe Kelly, but Hannah Blundell nips in at the key moment. City have been WSL force for far longer than United, but this season there is a growing sense that the red side side of Manchester can truly challenge. 4 min: There is a smart turn from Toone just inside the City half but her through ball towards Russo lacks precision an is easily cut out. This time she drives forward to the edge of the City box but her shot is a poor one and dribbles wide. Toone cuts the ball back to her teammate from the left-hand side of the box, Galton’s shot gets a handy deflection to beat Roebuck. It is a lovely goal for United as Toone combines with Galton to drive into the City box. Robeuck flaps at the resulting ball into the box but City are able to clear. 62 min: It is all United after that City bolt from the blue. 64 min: Moment of danger for United as Kelly’s cross drifts over the outstretched arm of Earps and just wide. The striker shifts the ball between her feet to make room for a shot which is just wide Roebuck’s right post. Again the United nips in ahead of the forward on halfway as PA announced a record WSL attendance at the Etihad, more than 44,000 fans in today.
Manchester City Women welcome Man Utd to the Etihad on Sunday and we'll bring you live updates from the WSL derby.
Laia Aleixandri - Fantastic calm footwork to turn out of trouble in the United box to create a chance for Kelly early on. Despite being a maestro in long balls she kept it short and snappy in the first half, a genuine solid performance at the back. Defensively she was strong as always with a top-notch performance but also in attack she was happy to drive into the City box shoulder to shoulder with towering Ouahabi. Came out to collect a high ball in the second half but missed it. Ellie Roebuck - She collected the ball well but was beaten by the big deflection for the goal. A confident performance that she grew into as the game progressed. And nicked the ball from Toone's feet in her area minutes later. Mary Earps - Her communication heard over a 44,000 crowd instilled confidence in her back four, demanding Blundell “stay on the ball” early into the game. Kerstin Casparij - Just quality on City’s right flank, she wasn’t afraid to get involved with Kelly in attack. Shaw has been prolific again for the Blues after enjoying an outstanding first season at the club last term. Hannah Blundell - Incredible first-half performance against Kelly and Casparij, she was involved at both ends. She couldn’t do anything from Coombs’ free header as it bounced into the back of her net.
Follow The Independent's live coverage of all the action in the FA Women's Super League today. The Manchester derby is taking place at the Etihad Stadium, ...
Attempt blocked. Lucía García (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Manchester City vs Manchester United
Manchester City play out a thrilling draw against neighbours and top-three rivals Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) header from very close range is blocked. Attempt blocked. Lucía García (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. - Shots - 44,259 - 25Hasegawa - 10Castellanos - 15Ouahabi - 5Greenwood - 4Aleixandri - 2Casparij - 1Roebuck
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90' free_kick_lost icon. Foul by Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United Women).
Nikita Parris (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Hayley Ladd (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Manchester City Women 0, Manchester United Women 1. Martha Thomas (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Manchester City Women 1, Manchester United Women 1. Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Lucía García (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) header from very close range is blocked. Attempt missed.
Manchester City salvaged a derby day point in the Women's Super League thanks to a stooping header from Laura Coombs after Leah Galton opened the scoring ...
We win all our games in the second half of the season and we can win the league. The United defence that has looked so composed this season so far suddenly began to wobble as the hosts looked for a winning goal, with Kelly coming close after the hour. With the chances still flying in into stoppage time, United had a legitimate claim for a penalty waved away after Alex Greenwood appeared to handle the ball in the area -- but both teams cancelled each other out. "I'm frustrated with the result but not the performance," United boss Marc Skinner said. The visitors began to control the match, pulling the home defence out of position while remaining hard to break down. Following some neat interplay with Ella Toone, Galton pulled the trigger from inside the box, the ball deflecting off Alex Greenwood to wrong-foot City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.
Manchester City hosted United at the Etihad for the derby in the final Women's Super League action before Christmas.
She often sat in front of the back four to screen United’s lethal through balls, especially in the second half. A quiet first half for her but in the second half, she dropped deep to help out but was kept but did not deliver to her usual quality. But she did get involved in shorter bursts of attacking play against United’s back four, unfortunate to not find the back of the net. Chloe Kelly - A huge threat with the ball at her feet, she saw a lot of the ball but Blundell got the better of her several times in the first half. She collected the loose balls well and was dynamic in using them as a counterattack or to slow the game and play backwards but carried the ball well into the attacking half and headed home the equaliser. But the game returned to a stalemate after Laura Coombs scored from a free header in the middle of United’s box.
Manchester United Women head coach Marc Skinner was thrilled with the way his team stood firm to earn an away point against Manchester City.
“We’ve got Sheffield United next before Christmas,” he said. And so all credit to the players in the first part of the year, and we’ve got lots of work to do in the next part of the year.” “Every game we grow. “This Manchester United is different. “They’re coming off not feeling ‘we’ve defended for our lives,’” continued Marc. We were very disappointed with the goal we conceded.
Manchester City Women welcome Man Utd to the Etihad on Sunday and we'll bring you live updates from the WSL derby.
Laia Aleixandri - Fantastic calm footwork to turn out of trouble in the United box to create a chance for Kelly early on. Despite being a maestro in long balls she kept it short and snappy in the first half, a genuine solid performance at the back. Defensively she was strong as always with a top-notch performance but also in attack she was happy to drive into the City box shoulder to shoulder with towering Ouahabi. Came out to collect a high ball in the second half but missed it. Ellie Roebuck - She collected the ball well but was beaten by the big deflection for the goal. A confident performance that she grew into as the game progressed. And nicked the ball from Toone's feet in her area minutes later. Mary Earps - Her communication heard over a 44,000 crowd instilled confidence in her back four, demanding Blundell “stay on the ball” early into the game. Kerstin Casparij - Just quality on City’s right flank, she wasn’t afraid to get involved with Kelly in attack. Shaw has been prolific again for the Blues after enjoying an outstanding first season at the club last term. Hannah Blundell - Incredible first-half performance against Kelly and Casparij, she was involved at both ends. She couldn’t do anything from Coombs’ free header as it bounced into the back of her net.