The stage was set in Manchester as Manchester United prepared to take on Tottenham Hotspur in their first home game at Leigh Sports Village in the 2024/25 season.
An Elisabeth Terland brace would be the difference for Manchester United in the first half, as both sides arrived within 8 minutes of each other after what was a dispiriting display from the Red Devils to begin with.
The second half would see Manchester United increase their lead through captain Maya Le Tissier, as the defender slotted home a penalty to give her side the victory at home.
The Lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce, George, Le Tissier, Toone, Clinton, Galton, Bizet, Naalsund, Janssen, Terland, Turner
TOT: Spencer, Grant, Bartrip, Naz, England, Hunt, Thomas, Ahtinen, Spence, Summanen, Neville
The Action
It would be Tottenham’s Jessica Naz to kick off the game as a highly-competitive game saw both teams look to grab an early lead.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce was forced to make an early save, with Tottenham’s Martha Thomas trying to net the first goal from close range. With the ball cleared from the box following the corner, Manchester United looked to settle into a solid defensive format.
Thomas then looked to set up Beth England in the box, who sent the ball just wide of the left post. It wouldn’t be long until Spurs had another chance, with Drew Spence sending the ball towards the top right corner. Phallon Tullis-Joyce read the move, saving the shot and tipping it over the crossbar.
United’s most convincing chance so far would come through Grace Clinton. Leah Galton found the midfielder in the box from the left flank as the midfielder sent her shot down the middle of the net. However, it was read by Tottenham’s Drew Spencer who tipped it over the bar. The resulting corner was sent towards the back post by Clinton, but was cleared by Tottenham’s defence who tried to respond with an attacking movement of their own.
Tottenham picked up a free kick on the right wing following a foul on Naz by Gabby George. Summanen sent the ball into the box, however it found the feet of Dominique Janssen who cleared the play out for a throw in. A cross from the throw found Thomas in front of goal who was unable to convert around the Manchester United defence.
Moving into the 40th minute, it looked as Manchester United would open the scoring as Lisa Naalsund had a chance in front of goal- but her strike was deflected from close range. Galton was available in the box to pick up the deflection, yet the goal shot was denied once again by the formidable Spurs defence.
However, Manchester United were not made to wait long for the opening goal as Elisabeth Terland scored her first competitive goal in red in the 43rd minute of play. A perfectly-placed cross from Celin Bizet from the right flank fell in front of Terland who volleyed the ball into the back of the net with composure.
It would not be long before Terland would find a second before the end of the half. Similar to the first goal, Bizet fired a curling cross into the area for a promising attack. Terland connected with her head from the back post, firing home her brace and sending Manchester United into the second half with a 2-0 lead.
Moving into the second half, Tottenham had an early free kick due to a foul on Naz. It was Ahtinen who stepped up to take it, sending it towards the box. Tottenham were unable to score from the movement with deflected shots from both Spence and Thomas denying the side of a goal.
A hat-trick looked in sight for Manchester United’s Terland as she found herself in front of goal again. Trying to slot the ball into the bottom right corner, she instead hit the post and the ball was cleared by the Tottenham defence. Following this, Manchester United settled into a strong attacking format in search of a third.
The game was put to bed in the 58th minute as Maya Le Tissier stepped up to take a penalty following a handball by Tottenham’s Ashleigh Neville in the box. Le Tissier expertly placed the ball in the bottom right corner, with Spencer diving the wrong way in an attempt to save the strike.
Tottenham Hotspur had their most convincing chance of the second half so far in the 69th minute, as Thomas sent the ball towards the back-post from the right flank towards the head of Vinberg. Matilda Vinberg was unable to connect, with the ball and Robert Vilahamn’s side were left asking questions for the rest of the fixture.
Manchester United looked to net a forth as Terland found the feet of Ella Toone who was free outside the box. Toone tried from distance, sending the ball soaring over the cross bar.
With ten minutes to go, susbitute Rachel Williams looked to increase United’s lead. In a free position to shoot, she sent the ball towards the bottom left corner which was easily read by Tottenham’s Becky Spencer in order to palm the strike away from danger.
Moving into eight minutes of additional time, Tottenham were looking for one last chance to score. Spence sent a shot towards the bottom right corner, forcing Tullis-Joyce to make an important save late in the game.
With neither team able to make another attack, Manchester United ended the game with a 3-0 victory in their first home game at Leigh Sports Village this season.
