Celine Bizet’s second-half screamer sealed an impressive 3-0 victory for Manchester United over Brighton at the Leigh Sports Village, which took them up to second in the Barclays Super League Table. Two goals in the first 10 minutes from Ella Toone and Hinata Miyazawa put the Red Devils in full control, and despite the Seagulls best efforts, never looked like relinquishing their grip on the game.
The Lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George, Miyazawa, Janssen, Bizet, Toone, Galton, Terland
BRI: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Olisalgers, McLauchlan, Losada, Cankovic, Pattinson, Haley, Parris, Vilamala
The Action
The home fans had barely taken to their seats when Toone opened the scoring in what was a blistering start for Manchester United. Brighton’s defenders let a long ball into their defence bounce, allowing Elisabeth Terland to win possession, hold off the defence, and then slide the ball through to the overlapping Toone. The in-form midfielder made no mistake, slotting the ball past the dive of Sophie Baggaley.
One goal quickly became two. Toone was instrumental again, this time, rolling a free-kick from out wide into the path of Miyazawa on the edge of the box. Her first effort was blocked, but her second flew through the crowd and into the net.
From then on, it was one way traffic, as Manchester United squeezed the life out of Brighton with their high press. Terland and Dominique Janssen both had efforts denied. Leah Galton curled an effort just over the upright. There was no way out for Brighton, and their distribution out from the back was failing. In shades of the chaos seen in last weekend’s Manchester Derby, Miyazawa stole the ball off the defender in the box and a third goal looked all but certain. But Baggaley would not be beaten again, saving from Miyazawa, and then parrying Terland’s attempt to convert the rebound.
Yet Brighton showed that there was indeed method in their apparent madness just seconds later, as they were able to get Nikita Parris to run clear from the halfway line. The England international was not able to outpace the frantically retreating defence, and the by the time the calvary arrived to support her, Manchester United had the defenders back to deal with the danger.
Dario Vidošić opted for drastic surgery in the half-time interval with a bold triple substitution. And whilst Brighton were able to assert themselves better at the start of the half, that was also in part to Manchester United opting not to commit as many as intensely to the press, instead looking to sit deeper and ping Brighton on the counter as they naturally pushed greater numbers forward.
Parris was the main focal point of Brighton’s attack, but it wasn’t her night against her former club. Her woes in front of goal were encapsulated in the 55th minute, when a flicked-on corner land at her feet in the 6-yard box. Either side of Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Brighton were back in the game, but Parris contrived to clear the crossbar.
Whilst Brighton chased the goal they would never find, the likes of Terland and Galton were able to create plenty of menace against Brighton’s commited numbers. Only a late intervention from Maria Thorisdottir prevented Terland’s cross setting Galton clear for 3-0.
But Manchester United would not be denied and ended the contest in spectacular fashion with 20 minutes left to play. Bizet retrieved a loose ball on the edge of the Brighton box, nutmegged the unfortunate Maisie Symonds, then unleashed a howitzer from 30 yards. Baggaley had done well to keep Brighton in the contest until then, but she could not sort her feet out in time, and was left flapping at thin air as the ball sailed over her gloves and into the net.
The finale was a mere damp squib compared to the lightning opening to the game, with Brighton a beaten side and Manchester United able to see the game out with the minimum of fuss. It was a result that sent the Red Devils up to second in the table, seven points off leaders Chelsea, whilst Brighton’s season, after such an aggressive start, now appears to have the air of one running out of steam about 8 games too early.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Celin Bizet
Toone, Terland and Miyazawa all had great performances, but Bizet’s rocket is what clinches it this time. A superb effort to cap off an impressive win for Manchester United, and the perfect way to bounce back from the midweek disappointment of exiting the League Cup.
